is eyes were puffy, his face haggard. When most people come to me for tax return preparation, they arent this sad until after Im finished!

We wont be doing my wifes return this year.

He didnt need to say more. Id heard these words before. Sometime between last year and

today, another marriage had ended. But he would say more. He had to. He was hurting, and he felt his accountant was someone he could trust.

She met this fellow over the Internet. I had no idea it was happening. His voice was sad and bitter.

I could tell this was not going to be a short story. What should I do? It was tax season, and my rate was $110 per hour. Listening to him relate his pain would cost one of us money.

So I did the only thing a follower of Jesus Christ can do: I reluctantlyyes, reluctantlyshut off the meter. I sat back and listened to his tale of personal tragedy, looking for an opportunity to share with him the only Person I know who can deal with this pain.

My profession is accounting. I help my clients reduce their taxes and run their business. I prepare financial statements to keep their bankers happy. Accounting is how I earn my living. But my true lifes calling is leading others to Christ.

Whats amazing is that many of us professionals have ideal opportunities to combine our job with our on mission calling.

1.We are often independently employed, so many of the interpersonal communication restrictions imposed by corporate or government employers dont apply to us.

As an accountant, if Im talking about Christ to a client, I can turn off my imaginary meter without fear that Im risking my job by spending company time on a non-productive activity.

2.We deal one-on-one with people on intimate issues. Often we see people at their most vulnerable.

For example, a doctor deals with life or death situations. What could be more intimate than a patients body and feelings about his or her health? The on mission doctor can give earthly medical advice but also can lead the patient to the greatest Healer.

3.Trust is a strong factor in our work.

A lawyer works under the principle of attorney-client privilege. For that matter, even occupations like real estate agent deal with confidential information about clients such as their financial circumstances. We are in a position to know not only the personal facts of peoples lives but also their fears, hopes and dreams. We have unique insight and perspective as we serve the people who trust us for our expertise. Our on mission response is to navigate these tricky waters with the right combination of professional respect and personal compassion.

Remember my client whose wife ventured outside the sanctity of their marriage? His personal crisis would result in a change to his tax situation. He was so torn up that his heartbreaking story just spilled out of him as he told it to me, his accountant. This gave me the perfect opportunity to share with him the gospel, to tell him that he needed to turn to Christ and lay the burden at His feet.

In another case, I had a client who said his marriage was on the ropes. Remember, Im an accountant, not a marriage counselor, but I know of pastors who are excellent marriage counselors and godly men. In this particular case I never even mentioned Jesus. I gave him the names of several pastors, and Im happy to report that he and his wife did follow up.

Its not always broken marriages that open doors for me. One particular fellow, after many years of struggling, finally accepted the reality that his business had failed. It was a great blow for him. He agonized over the failure of the business, the employees who would lose their jobs and the creditors who would not be paid.

He told me how hed walked away from his childhood faith. This opened the door for me to tell him how he needed to embrace that faith again and become involved in a solid church that could support him in his time of need.

And what if you arent a so-called professional? What if youre a plumber, and while fixing that leaky faucet in someones home, a full-blown battle erupts between mother and daughter? Doors slam as the daughter storms out, and a teary-eyed mother pokes her head through the bathroom door, shrugs her shoulders and apologizes.

For what? you say. Hey, we all have problems with our kids. I found this book that helped me with my son, and from there you offer to give her a good Christian book on parenting teens. You make sure she knows your church has a youth group that her daughter may enjoya place where the girl will hear the gospel.

Are you afraid shell laugh in your face, or politely say no? Dont worry about it. When parents are having troubles with their teens, they are like people drowning in the ocean, needing a lifeline to grasp.

Profession or occupation. Job or call. No matter what we do to earn our livelihood, we all share the same callingto bring Christ to those around us.

Andrew Snaden is an accountant and writer living in Prince George, British Columbia.