Dispatches from the assembly: David and Barbara Swartling, on living the whole life of Christian vocation

Submarine officer, Seattle attorney and now secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, assembly speaker David Swartling said of his many-faceted career, "It's been a journey over time, a journey of self-reflection."

He drew on the Apostles' Creed to describe surfacing during lonely trips across the Pacific, in the middle of the night and spotting dolphins gliding alongside, a scene that took his breath away.

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and Earth." 

Remembering 100 crew members crammed on a small sub, he drew on First Corinthians 1:12, which speaks of people bringing their different talents to the same goal of Christ.

"Everyone has different gifts," he said.

And the anchor symbolizing "hope secure in God."

Looking back at his lawyer years, Swartling said that for him, Christian vocation means more than getting the work done but instead is three-dimensional. It means creating relationship with co-workers, family and community, always striving to relieve burden.

"Vocation is about living the whole life," said Swartling, who relocated to Chicago with wife Barbara from Bainbridge Island, Wash., when he became ELCA secretary.

Barbara Swartling, a former banking executive, is the executive director of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA, and invited women to consider serving God through service as a deaconess. More about ELCA deaconesses can be found at www.elca.org/deaconess.