written by Richard Bergstrom, D.Min.
Co-Director, Re-Ignite
Recently we traveled to Denver to visit my mother-in-law who lives at Covenant Village of Colorado. To my surprise, I learned that a former professor at Westmont College (my alma mater) lives in the same retirement community. I arranged to meet Dr. David Neu and his wife, Karen, with the intent of giving them a signed copy of our book, Third Calling: What are you doing the rest of your life? I thought it might inspire them in their third-third of life. I didn’t expect Dr. Neu to give me a copy of his book––and share the story of his Third Calling.
Dr. Neu described his life’s passion for organ and congregational music. While studying math at Houghton College, a renowned music professor inspired him to explore his interest in music. He nearly decided to change his major from math to music, but instead pursued a B.A. from Houghton, an M.A. from Cornell University and then a Ph.D. from the University of Washington. He taught mathematics at Seattle Pacific University for several years, and then for three decades at Westmont College. He retired as a math professor, but his passion for music never left him. In fact, all during his career he served as a church organist and also frequently engaged in discussions with students and colleagues about contemporary issues in worship.
I was astounded to hear that in the fifteen years since retirement he had been researching the topic of worship. He pulled out his recently published book, Worship and Congregational Singing: An analysis of the power, function and place of music in Christian worship. A “mere” 561 pages in length, the work is truly worthy of being called his magnum opus. He also wrote a lighter companion piece entitled Volumes of Praise for a Vanishing God. (At least the smaller volume more closely resembled our book in size and stature!)
I came away with a profound awareness of how someone with a purpose, fueled by a passion for a cause or subject, can find fulfillment in the third-third of life. Dr. Neu certainly has found his Third Calling. Although very few of us will ever write a 561-page treatise in our lifetime, we can take a page out of his playbook and pursue that which we are passionate about.
Our book may help you discover your Third Calling––unless, of course, like Dr. Neu, you’re already living it!
Notes: For further information about Dr. Neu’s books and ministry, please visit www.neusong.com
Third Calling: What are you doing the rest of your life? by Richard and Leona Bergstrom is available on Amazon.com
©ChurchHealth 2017
Photo by CanStock
