Book Review: Here I Am: Now What on Earth Should I be Doing?
Christian colleges and universities, by their very nature, ought to be places where we ask and seek to answer the question "What on Earth Should I be Doing?". The discovery of one's vocation, calling, purpose and place in God's world should be at the core of what we do.
Author and Calvin College communication faculty member Quentin Schultze takes on this charge in his latest book, Here I Am.Drawing upon nearly 30 years of teaching and mentoring his Calvin College students, combined with examples from his own pursuit of "the call," Schultze provides insights into one's place and purpose in God's Kingdom.
Schultze helps distinguish between the idea of vocation (calling) and station, the places and ways in which our call is lived out. He reminds the reader that there is no such thing as a single calling, a one-track plan or changeless career for the Christian. Our primary call, he reminds us, is to follow Jesus Christ. Our "stations" will be those places and people we are called to serve.
In eight brief chapters, Schultze invites the reader to participate in the renewal of the creation, to "succeed wholeheartedly, care responsibly, celebrate leisure, flourish in community, love for good, and, offer a legacy." He reminds us that "our legacy becomes our lasting witness to others."
This brief text (100 pages) would be ideal as a supplementary text for a first-year seminar or introductory course within a discipline or major. Schultze draws examples from music, business, the sciences, the arts and others to illustrate his central claim: we exist to bring honor and glory to God. The way we do this is by faithfully exploring together what this means in our daily lives, and how this rich discover brings true purpose and meaning to life.