Yesterday was my last day at World Vision Canada. It is hard to put into words the impact that the last eight and a half years has had in my life. As I move on to a new challenge I can look back and see how God has been preparing me for it. World Vision has been a place of growth professionally, personally, and spiritually. I love World Vision, the mission, purpose, and definitely the people. At this point it feels like relationships formed here will be with me in one form or another for the rest of my life.
One of the most pivotal moments in my time at World Vision was the opportunity to attend the Arrow leadership development program. One of the key premises of Arrow is that our identity exists beyond just what we do. Now that I am no longer the web development manager
John heading off for his last day at World Vision
I find myself really considering how much of my identity was wrapped up in that role. This was transformational in my leadership and came at the perfect time to allow me to lead well. The challenge I find I’m facing now is that my gifts and talents fit incredibly well with where I was placed in fact almost perfectly aligned with my personal identity statement. As I reflect I’m finding it difficult to extricate my function from my identity. How do you separate what you do when from who you are when they are so intertwined? In January of 2017 I heard an powerful message on vocation by Dr. Gordon T Smith where he explains the fact that what we do matters incredibly both to us and to God. I have been reflecting on this message for the last year and half. fact James holds this tension well in James 2:14-18.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works.
Our faith must be put into action, it must drive us to act. In some ways this has been made easier as God has been clear with what is next for me and my family. As we move on I am excited to see how who I am and how God has made me will be contributing to the work that God has asked me to do.
What is the good work to which you have been called? (Gordon Smith goes through 6 questions which when answered assist in answering this large question)
