In a nation that has been so focused on work for the last few centuries, it is difficult to detach our personal identity from our vocation. If you think about it, when you meet someone new, the first three questions are typically “What’s your name? Where are you from? What do you do?” As we seek to get to know others, that third question tells us so much about a person – but it doesn’t define us.
Our purpose can easily be quite different from our vocation. To that point, I think about so much of the volunteer work that goes on in our community. The volunteers with the Conservancy are perhaps better identified with their willingness to help clean up our island and present a path towards better stewardship of our environment. The volunteers with the Historical Foundation have worked tirelessly to not only preserve the history of our island, but to present it to current and future generations. Volunteers at the church work to ensure that not only do the grounds look good, but that the service itself is appealing. Volunteers with our various animal care groups make sure that all of God’s creatures are looked after. Volunteers in Medicine make sure that all made in the image of God are looked after.
While I’m mentioning volunteer efforts, this weekend is the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Community Farm, coinciding with the celebration of the 86th birthday of the Farm’s founder, Pat Beichler. While it is important to celebrate all of our volunteers, it is appropriate to celebrate Ms. Pat and the Farm on 15 years of operating what has become one of the absolute “must see” attractions on Daufuskie. When she moved to the island, she was best known as a nurse, but now she’s known for pursuing her passion. Pat’s efforts to bring volunteers from all corners of the island to this one central location helped to create a stronger sense of island unity, promote the notion of sustainability, and offer a family-oriented attraction that appeals to all age groups. And one of the great pleasures of witnessing the Farm’s success is seeing people from so many different backgrounds and vocations come together to contribute to the cause, without regard for what anyone “did” in their lives outside of the Farm.
Yes, we need jobs and businesses to create the income streams that allow us to pay for the things that we need to live in this nation, but sometimes a job is just something that gives us the resources to pursue our true passions. Passions like starting a community farm, or preserving history, or helping others. Passions pursued because God put something on your heart, not because it could produce a paycheck.
Our island community would be vastly different without the efforts of passionate volunteers who have decided that they won’t be defined solely by their vocations. Fifteen years ago, a new story began because one woman wanted to pursue a passion. I can’t help but wonder if there is someone else in our community today willing to start a new venture that, fifteen years from now, we can be celebrating. What has God placed on your heart, and what’s keeping you from taking action? It may just be the very thing that is meant to define you.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron