Carry On My Gershonite Son

Numbers 4: 21-28

Short section about the group assigned the duty of lugging stuff related to: "the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 3:²⁶ the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—and everything related to their use."

And that's really all there is to it. Aaron's son Ithamar (who sounds like he had lisping parents) was in charge of assigning them specific tasks. They lugged around curtains and sea-cow hide. This was their sacred assignment.

It would be easy to feel a little less than important if your task for God was simply carrying around curtains- like you were nothing more than the flunky for a spiritual interior designer.

Maybe what we can learn from the Gershonites (besides the benefit of taking claim of the legal right of name changing) is to be content with your "calling." I'm not really comfortable with that word, though I hear it used often enough. But simply put, whatever position you find yourself in regarding service to God, be it with or without status or prestige- find the value. The guy that mows the lawn at the church building is important (and not likely to be me). The person who volunteers childcare, the person who shows kindness to neighbors, the political activist speaking for the voiceless, the international missionary, the mother teaching her child to read, the guy making dinner for a family going through hard times, the guy carrying the curtain... are all important. Whatever you figure out to do... find the value in it- and own it.

Carry the curtain, wayward son. There'll be peace when you are done.