Frederick Buechner writes,

“In the year that King Uzziah died, or in the year that John F. Kennedy died, or in the year that somebody you loved died” in his post about vocation based on Isaiah 6:1-9

I’ve been thinking about this, mostly in terms of “Here I am; Send me”. I struggle with the response of “Go”, seeking discernment about where I should go, how I should go, and I overlook the first part.

I write this as a friend sits by her mother’s bedside during the final moments of her mother’s life. I write this on the birthday of a friend that died a couple years ago. I write this as Hurricane Joaquin approaches, remembering the death of my mother a few years ago during Hurricane Sandy. I write this thinking about a friend whose son died in the first moments of life.

I write this as I read the news about the latest shooting, this time in Oregon. I think of Sandy Hook, Charleston, and … The list is too long. I think of Trayvon, Michael, Sandy, the list is too long.

Last night, I attended an opening for one of my daughters’ art project. It was great and I want to write more about it soon. This morning I received great news from another one of my daughters. I also want to write more about this soon.

How is it that all of this comes up in my Facebook timeline, including the link to Buechner as a sponsored post? How does this all fit together?

Buechner ends his post with “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.”

I must respond like Isaiah. “Here I am; Send Me”.