The recent pause in blog-writing was brought on by a major life event for my family and me. I use “family” here in two ways.
But before I get to that, the title of this blog cannot be found in the dictionary, but it is not a typo.
Allow me to explain.
After 45 years as a mechanical engineer, blessed by God to help keep the lights on in America, last Friday was my last day as a full-time employee. Although I will do some part-time work, especially for clients I have known a long time and care about, I have retired from formal corporate engineering work.
My career was highlighted by the rise and fall of three major markets: coal, solid waste (a.k.a. garbage), and biomass. Each had its ascent in the markets and each had its descent. To have navigated and succeeded in business was God-given. Left to my own devices, I would have failed miserably, and certainly I did from time to time.
But I was able to support my biological family and have some fun along the way.
So engineering consumed me, leaving little time for my true passion – writing books for the glory of God and for my spiritual family. Engineering was my vocation, but writing became my avocation.
The Latin derivative of “vocation” is “calling” and the derivative of “avocation” might be termed “un-calling.”
Today I enter refirement. Writing for God will now be my calling. And engineering will be my avocation, providing for a few repairs and maybe a vacation or two.
For the fifteen years of writing Streamside and especially for the past year since I started blogging, God has planted the seeds of passion for the unity of his children.
Now, by his grace, those seeds have sprouted, as I have stopped, looked, and listened for his refirement.
Watch here for an exciting new series called “The Commands of Jesus.”
This is bedrock. We can build a consensus on unity from here.
This is refirement for the family of God. You, too!
But before I get to that, the title of this blog cannot be found in the dictionary, but it is not a typo.
Allow me to explain.
After 45 years as a mechanical engineer, blessed by God to help keep the lights on in America, last Friday was my last day as a full-time employee. Although I will do some part-time work, especially for clients I have known a long time and care about, I have retired from formal corporate engineering work.
My career was highlighted by the rise and fall of three major markets: coal, solid waste (a.k.a. garbage), and biomass. Each had its ascent in the markets and each had its descent. To have navigated and succeeded in business was God-given. Left to my own devices, I would have failed miserably, and certainly I did from time to time.
But I was able to support my biological family and have some fun along the way.
So engineering consumed me, leaving little time for my true passion – writing books for the glory of God and for my spiritual family. Engineering was my vocation, but writing became my avocation.
The Latin derivative of “vocation” is “calling” and the derivative of “avocation” might be termed “un-calling.”
Today I enter refirement. Writing for God will now be my calling. And engineering will be my avocation, providing for a few repairs and maybe a vacation or two.
For the fifteen years of writing Streamside and especially for the past year since I started blogging, God has planted the seeds of passion for the unity of his children.
Now, by his grace, those seeds have sprouted, as I have stopped, looked, and listened for his refirement.
Watch here for an exciting new series called “The Commands of Jesus.”
This is bedrock. We can build a consensus on unity from here.
This is refirement for the family of God. You, too!
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