Shortly before I was ordained, a priest friend gave me a wonderful book on homiletics: “Preaching Better” by Bishop Ken Untener. At NDICE this weekend, I stumbled upon a collection of the late bishop’s writings, “The Practical Prophet,” and found this choice quote. He was speaking of the priesthood — but I think deacons can relate, as well:

“We talked about being pulled in so many directions — to be there when people are dying, and then to baptize little babies, to reach out to young people and old people, to visit homes, to prepare people for marriage, to preach week in and week out, to help the poor, to speak out on issues that aren’t so popular, to take a stand, to read and think and study about the great issues of the world, to comfort the sick and the suffering.

But do you know what? We wouldn’t trade it for anything. Because there is nothing greater than to be in the thick of life. I can think of no better place to be than where there is life and death–and struggles and dreams and the search for meaning, and a crowd of people, lonely individuals, little children, and song and celebration and sometimes weeping…if my vocation were taken away from me, do you know what I would miss most of all? Being in the thick of things where the Lord is at work.