In his foreword to a...
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In his foreword to a recent edition of Dag Hammarskjold's book called Markings, the poet W. H. Auden said of the Swedish former secretary-general of the United Nations that Hammarskjold was endowed with many brilliant gifts but was probably not a genius. "Geniuses," he observed, "are the luckiest of mortals because what they must do is the same as what they most want to do ... One suspects that the geniuses will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven -- if, indeed, they ever make it; they have had their reward" -- the reward of knowing that their work is good and lasting in value. Life was difficult for Dag Hammarskjold, Auden concludes, because as a gifted jack of many trades he had to struggle with his calling.
The Apostle Paul also struggled with his calling. As a messenger of the gospel -- God's "genius," if you will -- he never took credit for doing what was a necessity for him, a commission. He was only doing what he had to do. And instead of claiming a privileged status, he was willing to adapt himself to the needs and situations of others. For the sake of the gospel he became a jack of all trades.
(Auden quote is from Ballantine edition of 1983, Auden copyright in 1964.)
The Apostle Paul also struggled with his calling. As a messenger of the gospel -- God's "genius," if you will -- he never took credit for doing what was a necessity for him, a commission. He was only doing what he had to do. And instead of claiming a privileged status, he was willing to adapt himself to the needs and situations of others. For the sake of the gospel he became a jack of all trades.
(Auden quote is from Ballantine edition of 1983, Auden copyright in 1964.)
