Pastor Timothy Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian, NYC) takes the title of his latest book, Every Good Endeavor, from the liner notes of a 1957 album by jazz legend John Coltrane (1926-1967). He described the album as “an attempt to say ‘THANK YOU GOD’ through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.”
The Foreword is written by Katherine Leary Alsdorf, who directs Redeemer’s Center for Faith and Work. She realized early in her Christian walk that truly putting God first meant she had to be open to Him calling her to serve anywhere. Prior to her current position at Redeemer, Katherine’s last calling had been as the CEO of a company in the Silicon Valley. One major observation she made during that tenure was that any degree of success or failure was part of God’s plan for her life- that He was her source of strength and perseverance.
Ultimately that company failed and Katherine had to let 100 people go. Yet the next day, the final day, those people- entirely on their own initiative and without pay- came in to work to celebrate each other and the work they had done, no doubt a reflection of Katherine’s commitment to live out her faith in the workplace. Eventually she came to see that day as a glimpse of God’s healing, renewing, and redeeming work.
As we journey toward healing and revisioning of our calling, may the Lord strengthen us in “every good endeavor.”
Tomorrow’s blog: “Recovering the concept of vocation”