Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good
"Visions of Vocationcalls its readers to make a commitment to a journey, one of calling and courage that will challenge not just your mind but also your heart and your soul. This remarkable book will cause you to desire a whole new way of knowing and seeing. Steve Garber is a scholar, a teacher, and a man who thinks and speaks with rich visual imagery. In the last fifteen years the conversation on calling has been animated by many voices, and never far from these important dialogues you will find Dr. Garber, asking the questions that have shaped and informed the trajectory of his work: What does it mean to be human? How are we to live? What truly matters? God calls us to engage this world, in all its brokenness.Visions of Vocationis a gracious and faithful companion for this journey, much like its author." (Lisa Park Slayton, president, Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation)"Visions of Vocationis a rare accomplishment. Steven Garber writes with deeply held convictions yet doesn't require the reader to believe what he believes. He invites us into this important conversation with respect and engages us on our sense of responsibility in and for the world. His book is an absolute gift." (David Kiersznowski, CEO of the Demdaco Corporation)"Visions of Vocationis a feast for the heart, mind and soul. A master teacher, storyteller and writer, Steve Garber has woven together a lifetime of stories, insights and wisdom, vividly--and at times emotionally--showing how our vocations are at the heart of our love and service to God. I have never known anyone who teaches through story, literature and movies better than Steve. His narratives not only pull me in but they hit me right in the heart--and mind--time and time again, shaping my imagination so that when I have finished I see the world differently. And I act differently. Teachers, professors, students, parents, those in the marketplace, and all who want their lives to matter should read this book. This is a very important book for the church and Christians today." (Jim Belcher, author of In Search of Deep Faith)"We are known by the questions we ask, the lives we lead, and the company we keep. In this wise and wonderful book, Steve Garber engages us with important and big questions, narrates stories of remarkable people, and keeps great company. And along the way, we see God and the world--and ourselves--more clearly and deeply." (L. Gregory Jones, professor of theology, Duke Divinity School and strategic director, Laity Lodge Leadership Initiative)"Few have thought as long, hard or well about vocation as Steve Garber. With his characteristically accessible and pastoral prose, inVisions of VocationGarber sheds light on the dilemmas of working well in this broken-yet-beautiful world. He equips us to fight against our tendencies toward cynicism, stoicism and distraction with biblical truth and insights from the best of philosophy and literature. His real-life stories of Christians living for the common good make vocational faithfulness--the willingness to be implicated in the pain of this world--plausible and attractive. Read this and see afresh how the great Christian story, and especially the innumerable wonders of the incarnation, empower us to 'tear off a corner of the darkness' in the particular places and roles we daily inhabit." (Amy L. Sherman, author of Kingdom Calling)"Steve Garber is a sensitive, passionate, thoughtful and wise man. This book accurately captures his concerns and hopes as he battles to make sense of a world that is simultaneously ugly and glorious. You're happy to make the journey with him because of the love and vulnerability that exude from every page." (Steve Turner, poet and author of Popcultured)"Reading Steve Garber on the subject of vocation and the mission of God is essential for anyone attempting to see what God is saying to the church in our day. Too many of us give lip service to the concept of the ministry of all believers, but few have truly pondered this notion as has Steve. I have found this book to be not just helpful and challenging but compelling and riveting." (John Yates, rector, The Falls Church Anglican)"As I readVisions of Vocation, I felt deeply encouraged to 'know the world and still love it.' This book informed and captivated my mind with its wide range of theological, cultural, literary and personal conversations. But, more than any book I have read in a long time,Visions of Vocationtouched my heart. It helped me recover my longing for God’s justice. It renewed my commitment to making a difference where God has placed me. It inspired me to live out my own vocation faithfully, trusting God with the results of my labors. How thankful I am for the godly wisdom of Steve Garber, shared so generously inVisions of Vocation." (Mark D. Roberts, executive director of digital media, The High Calling/H. E. Butt Foundation)"Steve Garber has a way of making me feel spiritually rich. What he thinks and says is what I need. I realize this because he does both so well. His exceptional biblical insight and profound humanity increase my hunger for God and the ways of God. I am left seeking God’s calling into a more genuine human life and believing God intends this as part of the common good for which we are made and redeemed. Feast on this book and be fed." (Mark Labberton, president, Fuller Theological Seminary)"Good books tell the truest truths about the human condition, and this is truly a great book. Artfully weaving together stories, literature and his own experience, Steve has shaped the best book on vocation we have ever read. He has beautifully articulated a vision of work that we think is a must-read for everyone who wants to live with eyes wide open to the Kingdom of God and the common good.  This book will help you 'crush it' for the glory of God!" (Evan Loomis and Jason Ballard, entrepreneurs and cofounders of TreeHouse)"Visions of Vocationasks the most compelling and human questions about how to love the world once you come to truly know it. These pages are packed with stories of wisdom and grace, serving as a vocational compass for anyone seeking true guidance in the midst of a complex world. I am grateful for the mentorship of Steve Garber's words, and I know you will be too." (Jena Lee Nardella, cofounder, Blood:Water Mission)"Visions of Vocationdraws us into conversation not only with Steven Garber but also with his many and varied friends, mentors and students. The result is a rich and deep engagement with life in all its ordinariness, adventure, disappointment and mystery. At the heart of this conversation is the challenge, and power, of living responsibly--of taking life seriously, of paying attention, of learning and suffering, and above all of choosing to put love into action. The result is not guaranteed, but it puts us in a place where hope is sustained, and however partially, often satisfied." (Paul S. Williams, executive director, Marketplace Institute, and David J. Brown Family Chair of Marketplace Theology and Leadership, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada)"Visions of Vocationis a welcome voice arising from the cultural ruins of a confusing and perilous moment in human history. In his finest work yet, Steven Garber raises with a tender heart, and an insightful mind, the question of whether we can truly know the world and still love the world. Skillfully weaving together the persuasive threads of proposition as well as engaging narrative,Visions of Vocationwisely guides the pilgrim of faith away from the alluring dead-end streets of numbing stoicism and callused cynicism. The author delicately dismantles untenable idealism yet graciously lays the foundation of a hopeful realism needed to wisely engage the world through a life of vocational faithfulness.Visions of Vocationis a grace gift and a must-read." (Tom Nelson, author of Work Matters)"Visions of Vocationwas not birthed in the dusty stacks of libraries, nor is it dryly academic--Steven Garber is a scholar, but also a storyteller. It is passionate and accessible, a life-affirming exploration of a question we all must face: does my life and work matter, and how can I know? Garber takes us with him into conversations with people whose daily lives are in politics, business, art, homemaking and hamburgers, all for the common good. By bringing the ancient wisdom of seers and apostles together with the stories of contemporary people, Garber illuminates the meaning of vocation--yours and mine--so that we can see and move beyond the restrictive confines of mere career, job and duty." (Denis Haack, editor of Critique and cofounder of Ransom Fellowship)"Steve Garber is one of the few consistent sources of wisdom that I rely on personally for my journey as an artist and as a Christ-follower. Like  Magi's stars to the weary travelers in faith and culture,Visions of Vocationis a clear manifestation in the dark skies of our complex times that points to an integrated source of wisdom, delight and hope." (Makoto Fujimura, artist)"Visions of Vocationwill be considered a classic of our time, inspiring many to care more deeply and live out their own passions with vitality and integrity." (Byron Borger, Hearts & Minds Bookstore, Dallastown, Pennsylvania)"Steven Garber's lovely and poignant book,Visions of Vocation,is a moving testament to the truth that purpose and meaning come from taking responsibility for acting on what we know, and not hiding behind the lie that our beliefs have no real relevance in the secular marketplace. His chapter on my ancestral village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, where Protestant Huguenot villagers shielded five thousand Jews from Nazi persecution during World War II—at great personal risk and without a second thought—was a reminder that, like the Hebrew expression, knowing and doing are indeed inseparable aspects of a life worth living. This book should and will influence many for the good." (Bruno Roche, chief economist, Mars, Incorporated)"Steve Garber is fond of quoting Walker Percy's articulate summary of novel crafting: 'Bad books lie. They lie most of all about the human condition.'Visions of Vocationis precisely the opposite of a bad book—this is a good book that tells the truth about the human condition as well as so many other truths. He invites us to ponder and respond to the question 'Now that we know, what will we do, given who we are?' This invitation is a good gift to everyone who seeks a sober yet hopeful vision of vocation that leads to in-but-not-of redemptive living in God's world." (Donald C. Guthrie, professor of educational ministries, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)"Visions of Vocationis a thoughtful meditation on human brokenness and our failure to be honest in recognizing Thoreau's insight that most of us live lives of quiet desperation. Rather than preach despair, Garber points us to Scripture, literature, music and film to illustrate the simple truth that the examined life is the only one worth living. There is no better evidence of this than the stories he tells about his own life and his community of friends who have been thoughtful and intentional about asking the big questions over the years of their lives. How fitting that in a book about vocation, Steven Garber has winsomely achieved his life's greatest work." (Michael Flaherty, cofounder and president, Walden Media)"If I could sit at the feet of anyone to learn about vocation, it would be Steven Garber. Tuck yourself away in a corner with these pages and prepare your heart and soul to dream again. In a culture where imaginations are running dry, Garber floods your mind with the possibilities of what your role might be in putting the world back together, one vocation at a time." (Gabe Lyons, author of The Next Christians and founder, Q Ideas)"It has been said that one way you can discern something is valuable is whether you will want to share it with those you love. This book passes that test, as Garber asks the big questions in the context of today's world, artfully and compellingly opening into a conversation that moves beyond cynicism and explores more life-bearing ways of being and doing in the vast, soul-stretching space between is and ought, knowing and yet still loving." (Sharon Daloz Parks, coauthor of Common Fire: Leading Lives of Commitment in a Complex World)"Visions of Vocationtouches a deep place within us, which is not surprising because Steve Garber is part storyteller and sage, part prophet and soul doctor. His unique ability to guide, encourage, challenge and nurture the reader is a gift of grace and wisdom. Drawing on his years as professor and friend, Steve weaves a vision for a purposeful life, introducing us to the traveling mercies of companions who help illumine our way. The book is an invitation into a conversation that our culture deeply longs for today, and is like fresh water in an arid land, dry as we are from the absence of thoughtful, verdant reflection on how and why our lives should matter." (Steven Moore, president, Murdock Trust, Vancouver, Washington)