What implicates you?

What causes you to feel “responsible” for things that are happening in the world?

What makes you feel compelled to do something about it? To right what is wrong?

These are a few of the questions that our time with Dr. Steven Garber have centered around. Steve is the Director of The Washington Institute in Washington D.C. — a place devoted to conversations about faith, vocation and culture.

Working in collaboration with our Office of Career Services and the Sophomore Transition Center, we’ve brought Steve to campus for our first annual Career & Calling week.

Our hope — our desire — is that we will connect students, and their desire to live lives of meaning and purpose, with the larger story of God… so Steve’s primary question: What implicates you? is proving to be significant.

Helping our students to thoughtfully and intentionally think through what they’re going to do with what they know… asking them to consider if they can know the world — and still love it… and ultimately, what will compel them to get involved and make a difference in a world that so many believe is simply “beyond help”… is weighty territory — especially post-spring break.

But for those who are willing to come inside on these incredibly beautiful days… I think they’re having their hearts and minds forever changed.

You see, I think a lot of our student come to campus with thoughts of money, power and fame — at some level and to varying degrees — in association to the degree they’re pursuing and the work they will do. Not because they’re greedy mongers out to rule the world (though some might be), but because it’s how our culture has taught them to think — and prioritize.

Money, fame and power is what most of America strives for… but as Christ-followers, we believe we should be different.

So one of our primary tasks is to help students reconsider their understanding of work — and what they were created for.

What if it’s not about them?

What if it’s not about the size of their pay check?

What if it’s not about how well they’re known or how high they can achieve on some corporate ladder?

Instead, we want them to recognize that God has designed them with something in mind.

That He has instilled in each of them unique gifts, talents and passions.

That He extends an invitation to each of them (and to each of us) to be about something much bigger than themselves…

And for many… I think it’s a hard jump to make.

But for others, the lightbulb is turning on.

You can see it on their faces.

The words that Steve shares… the questions he asks… and God’s Spirit at work…

Change is afoot.

I don’t know that I’ve heard conversations about vocation talked about from this angle before — what implicates you…

I think I like it.

So what implicates you?

How do you understand your work within the larger story of God?

How are you helping students to think about these things… in ways that are formative and transformative?