From Theology to Drugs

Looking back at my life, how did I go from studying theology in seminary to pharmacy school?  I must have been on something at the time when I made the decision to switch.  Seriously though, I think the reason for the dramatic change had more to do with practicality than idealism.  At the same time, it was a gradual process.  My move away from theology was a result of my deeper understanding of theology; specifically, my worldview was being transformed by the theology I was learning.  In other words, theology brought me to pharmacy.  Let me explain.  To most of my readers, what I’m going to say next is nothing profound.  It was profound to me who finally understood it; I mean, it changed the course of my life, literally.  The thing I realized was the beauty of the created order described in the first couple of chapters of Genesis, from the creation of everything to the appointment of Adam.  What this realization meant was a demolishing of a worldview informed by dualism.  In its place was a belief in the goodness of physical creation whose origin came from the fiat of a good creator.  No longer was the earthly set against the heavenly, fleshly against the spiritual, but God had declared all of it “good”.  For me, of course, this meant that the line drawn between secular and sacred vocation was erased.  The pastor, missionary, pharmacist, lawyer, postman, baker, artist, student, mother, etc, were all holy callings worthy of pursuit.  God’s world is bigger than the church.  Redemption reaches beyond her gates.  It emcompasses all creation, all of life.  In the end, the whole creation will bring glory to God.