The LEArning Curve
Changed for the Good: Hope, Service, and Vocation
A few months back, my wife and I had reserved a hotel in Kerrville, Texas—a quiet escape to celebrate our anniversary in the scenic Texas Hill Country. But after the devastating July 4th flooding, our plans needed to change. We realized God was calling us not to retreat, but to serve. We joined Samaritan’s Purse as part of a disaster recovery crew, working alongside volunteers from across the nation to help rebuild lives touched by tragedy.
Encountering Loss—and Hope
The drive into Kerrville was sobering. Our emotions were raw as we arrived at the memorial wall in town. A camper’s sandals were attached, with flowers and notes from caring people. Portraits of those who died or who were still missing were prominent. And…people were just standing there, experiencing incredible grief. Tears came quickly. But the sight of God’s Word surrounding that place reminded us that even in ruin, Christ’s light remains unshaken. This is the very heart of the theology of the cross (theologia crucis): that God reveals His power not in worldly triumph but in weakness, suffering, and the cross. Hope doesn’t come from escaping pain—it can come from finding Christ within it.
Serving as a Reflection of Grace
Piles of belongings lined the roads. Pieces of clothing clung to treetops along the Guadalupe River, silent witnesses to the force of the floodwaters. Yet amid the destruction, signs of faith and hope appeared everywhere—Scripture verses painted on shop windows, Bible quotes on fences, and the unmistakable presence of God’s people serving shoulder to shoulder, from many states and from even outside our country.
As we began our work, we were outfitted with hazmat suits, gloves, and N95 masks. The odor of decay and mold lingered in the air, but so did the fragrance of grace. Every moment became a living sermon about faith in action: organized teams working tirelessly, Mercy Chefs providing free and delicious meals, H.E.B. (Texas grocery chain) offering snacks and drinks, and prayers being lifted from every corner of the site. Each volunteer bore the name of Christ in their service, embodying what Martin Luther described as the vocation of love—where our daily work becomes a channel for God’s mercy
As Lutheran educators, we share this same calling. Whether in classrooms, hallways, or faculty meetings, our service to others flows from faith, not ambition. Teaching is not just a profession; it is a vocation—God’s invitation to participate in His redeeming work through the shaping of young hearts and minds. Each lesson taught, each prayer whispered, each act of kindness extended to a student or colleague echoes this same divine purpose: to serve as faithful stewards of God’s grace.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
God Sightings and Grace Moments
At the end of the long, humid day, our team circled up—hands clasped, hearts open—to share what we called “God sightings.” Some saw them in the organization of tools and supplies. Others saw them in a shared laugh over a meal or in a stranger’s quiet prayer of gratitude. These were holy moments—visible signs of an invisible grace.
One image that lingers in our hearts is that of white crosses, each one marking the hope of resurrection. Another was boxes lined up—belongings of campers. There was sorrow, yes, but also deep reverence. In those moments, our own anniversary felt transformed from a celebration of us into a celebration of God’s faithfulness and His power to renew what seems lost.
Transformation Through Service
Luther also said, “God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.” That truth came alive in Kerrville. Serving didn’t just change the lives of those we helped—it changed us. Our hearts grew softer. Our faith deepened. We saw how God’s mercy multiplies when shared. Service has a way of rearranging our priorities, reminding us that life’s greatest joy is found not in comfort, but in compassion.
For Lutheran educators, this truth is deeply familiar. Every time we serve our students, we are also being shaped—refined by God’s Spirit into instruments of grace. In teaching, mentoring, and loving others, we discover again and again that hope is not just something we teach; it’s something we live.
Changed for the Good
As we left Kerrville, we were tired but grateful—filled with gratitude for the community that came together, for the prayers that sustained us, and for the God who works through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We were changed forever—for the good.
So, to our fellow Lutheran educators: keep teaching, keep praying, keep serving. For in doing so, you do more than educate—you become the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs His hope. And through that service, God changes lives—starting with our own.
