Meilaender states: And in the modern world, work has certainly begun to have the status of an idol" this quote I found striking. How true is this! My whole life has been preparing me for work to get a job of some kind. It makes me think of how there are so many days where I am more focused on schoolwork so that I can get the desired job that i am not focused enough on God. School becomes the priority to so many countless students. I Make my time with God wrapped around my schooling. Now having read melainder when I actually get the job I will try to keep my focus day to day on God and not on the dreamed on job.

At the end of the debate between theories of serve your God or serve your neighbor, the core truth is that humans: "are made to share with all others the praise of God". Meilaender talks about how we identify ourselves and introduces ourselves by what we do, our job. Why do we have that as our core and proclaim being a Christian instead? 

Gilbert settles that instead of trying to solve the mystery between occupation and friendship one must realize: "The tension between particular and universal love is "solved" only as it is lived out in a life understood as a pilgrimage toward the God who gives both the friend and the neighbor"

Meilaender acknowledges that "Christian thought at its best has never pretended that vocation exacted no price" this is true. God says hardships will come in this life for following him. Besides persecution, the struggle of leisure/ calling is another hardship that comes at a price. 

Finalized: Meilaender prompts (as I take it) that in essence the answer to this long process of comparing theories is simply that a Christian must know God gave us both the calling and the neighbor. From there one choices to take it all on in this life through ambulando. Which means "it is solved by walking". 

-Personally I will go forth in my life living to glorify God in all that I do and thus living out my vocation of a simply being a human being, and will take on any "tasks" He leads me to while all along loving my neighbors and enjoying leisure. 

-I worked at a camp and one question I liked to ask kids is"why do you think God created fun?", because God too has joy and thus Christians are to dwell in community and hold friendships that are full of joy and fun. It is pleasing to God. 

About Meilaender:

"Does obedience to a divine summons diminish or enhance the one who has been called?”- Meilaender.

I heard it said "It is hard to steer a parked car". I have free will and God has carved out somewhat of a path for me in my life, but I also have freedom and free will. I will not make a choice that forever messes up God's plan if I go in the wrong direction of his plan. God lets me steer my life but I have to be moving and doing things. If I start to drift in a direction he does not want he will steer me in the direction he wants. Going off of this idea after reading all of Meilaender's words I have come to the conclusion that I will try to live a balanced life of calling and friendship. I believe  will serve my God by doing my job and will enjoy my friends and God will prompt me in either direction if I am not balancing well.