David Jones was a British teenager who wanted to make a career out of his love for music. He was playing and performing his music before he ever graduated from school. He became a leader of several bands and finally recorded his first album.

The album received positive reviews by England’s harshest music critics, yet it sold little. In a matter of
months, David was homeless and living on the streets. To make matters worse, a new popular London band called The Monkeys was roaring across the headlines and the country with a bandleader who had the same name that he did!

David thought he’d never be distinguished from this new star when it came to marketing himself to the record labels, but he did not give up his definite aim of a career making music.

In the earlier 1970’s, David recorded a song on a cassette tape while sitting on a sofa in a friend’s
apartment. The song, “Major Tom,” rang a cord with the record company. The entire world was raptured with the American – Soviet rush to space dominance, and David’s song quickly topped the charts.

The rest is history for that English boy who had a definite aim for his life. David, David Bowie that is,
went on to become the wealthiest musician in England.

Now this is one of my favorite success stories, but it beckons us as pastors to ask if we are committed enough to our definite aim in ministry to endure homeless while still trying again, despite the obstacles we may face.

And I hate to just gloss over it but when Bowie produced a song that was culturally relevant – Major Tom – he was back in the game and bigger than ever.

So pastor, is it time for you to commit to a definite aim of pastoral care in ministry?