Sean Kershaw's Weblog
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May 14, 2009
The Meaning of "Lifework": Thanks Pastor Johnson
One of the ministers who had the greatest influence on me growing up in Nebraska also lived on my paper route. One summer day Rev. Norbert Johnson stopped me to talk, as he often would, while I was delivering the Omaha World-Herald. This time he asked me if I would ever consider going into the ministry.
I don't remember if I answered him or not, but I remember him spending more time talking about finding your "calling" -- whatever it is -- than I do talking about seminary. His description of what moved him to go into the ministry was really a description of finding your lifework and calling in any field.
From then on, my interest in policy and politics and public life, which began in elementary school, took on new meaning and new clarity.
By an amazing coincidence, Rev. Johnson was from the St. Paul and actually served on the very first Metropolitan Council. We have a picture of him in our office with a group of community and Citizens League leaders as Governor Lavander signed this legislation in 1967 (the year I was born).
I didn't know about this connection until I started this job -- which is certainly as close to a "calling" for me as anything I've imagined.
Rev. Johnson passed away last weekend. He lived an incredible full life, and impacted thousands of people more than he did me. His funeral tonight at First Covenant Church in St, Paul will be a nice -- and strange -- homecoming. There will be people there from my childhood in Omaha, my new home in St. Paul, and maybe even from the Citizen League's past.
He was an amazing teacher -- a true "sheppard" in every sense of the word -- and I owe a great deal to his intelligence, insight, patience and faith. I hope I can pass on the wisdom he gave me to others.
Posted by Sean Kershaw at May 14, 2009 5:44 AM