It's God Calling!

December 17, 2015 is the 10th anniversary of my priestly ordination. I am amazed that a decade can feel like a blink of an eye.  It is still a privilege to offer myself in God’s service and I am exceedingly grateful to share this ministry with others who love God just as much as I do.  There are always challenges, which are really opportunities to see what God is up to and where God is calling us to be.
I do believe we all have a calling from God – to use the gifts and talents we have been given to bring about God’s kingdom on earth. The secular world tries to convince us that those talents should be exploited to make as much money as possible in order to be fulfilled.  That is a false idea of vocation.  There are too many people in this world who “make a comfortable living” and are completely miserable while doing it. Others purse their passions and while living hand-to-mouth.
In his book Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC, Frederick Buechner offers, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” I freely admit that I have the distinct privilege to seek my “deep gladness” while other struggle simply to survive soul crushing poverty, war and illness. In the midst of all this, identifying a “calling” can get easily lost when survival becomes paramount.  I hope all of us who have this privilege recognize it for what it is and use that power to offer support and change for those not in those circumstances. 
I fear that much of the discontent we see in our society today stems from the lack of opportunity for those caught up in a system that devalues their gifts, if they are even identified.  It is a simple matter for an organization to suggest to a group of discontented people and point a finger at another group and say, “they are the reason your life is terrible.  You can change your circumstance by getting rid of them.” This thinking allowed for Jim Crow laws and was the basis of Nazi propaganda.  It is a story as old as those in the Bible and as new as ISIS and ISIL. 
My gifts do not extend to being able to turn economic tides and allow for all people to find meaningful work, but I do (and will for as long as I draw breath) preach that God’s love is real and for everyone.  I believe that it is within the sanctuary of God’s love that we are able to discern our gifts and those of others.  It is incumbent upon us to use those gifts in service to God.  In that way I believe we will bring about God’s kingdom on earth.
Sure, that sentiment is a bit (or more than a bit) Pollyanna.  It sounds good, but how do we actually DO that?  I don’t know, but that is a good thing because it points me, always and in all ways, to God.  So we start with prayer and discernment, seeking God in all that we do.  We start by loving our neighbor as ourselves and not pointing any fingers because that is an exercise in futility.  We start by sharing what gifts and talents we see in each other, especially the children, and encouraging them to use those gifts in service to God (perhaps on the Vestry?!).  We start by allowing ourselves the luxury of seeking our “deep gladness” and (if we are truly blessed) changing course in order to pursue it AND meet the world’s deep need.  We start by giving thanks for all the gifts we have and not lament about the gifts we don’t possess (said to every American Idol wannabe who really cannot sing!).
As we reflect on this year coming to a close and think of the potential of the next, take some time to consider your calling, your deep gladness.  If you know what it is, rejoice and be glad in it.  If you are unsure, talk to people you know and trust (like your priest) to start discerning where God might be calling you.  While it might not seem like we are fighting against the powers of darkness, I trust that any action toward establishing God’s kingdom on earth is doing our part.
In gratitude and humility to God,

Rev. Valerie+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Give God the Glory

Reflections on Chapters 12-14 of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Years ago, I had a grandparent chargingly ask me if it was OK for her to be proud of her granddaughter, because she had been taught, “Pride goeth before the fall.”   I assured her that being proud of her grandchild was not a sin when the feeling was offered in thanksgiving of the accomplishment and not boosting up one’s own ego. “Look at what I have done,” has been the down fall of many people because they neglect or forget those that helped them achieve their goals. The Book of Acts shares story after story of the importance of acknowledging that all power and might comes from God, to whom we should offer our thanks and praise.   When our egos take over and we congratulate only ourselves for what we have done, we become idolatrous. Chapter 12 records an terrible story of King Herod’s response to the apostles.   He outright kills James and then arrests Peter, who is guarded by over 30 men....
Read more

Good Lord, Deliver Us

Today is the “Hallmark Holiday” Valentine’s Day.  Some of us will mark the occasion by wearing red or remembering at the last minute to buy a card or flowers of one’s beloved.  But my thoughts and prayers are with the 17 families of Parkland, Florida who mark today as the first anniversary of living without a loved one who was killed in a shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  It seems hard to believe a year has past since that awful day, which also happened to be Ash Wednesday.   Due to that fact, I was not as “plugged-in” that day and only got snippets of information between services.   As the details emerged, it was tragic and heartbreaking, taking on a surreal shimmer as most unthinkable acts do. Unfortunately, it was quite real, and the aftermath will be felt forever. I don’t know any of the victims, however I feel a connection to Carmen Schentrup, who was a 16 (almost 17) year old senior with big plans. She was also Episcopalian. ...
Read more

Transformation

Reflections on Chapters 9-11 of the Acts of the Apostles A little over a year ago, on the Feast of St. Paul’s Conversion (January 25), I wrote a blog post entitled “People Don’t Change – Until They Do.”   In our cynical world, too often we dismiss the idea that transformation can be a reality: that a criminal can be rehabilitated; an addict can remain in recovery, a “sinner” can become a “saint.” It is true that, being human, many of us fall short of complete change (I’ve lost and gained the same 40-50 lbs. many times in my life). However, such skepticism neglects the power of the Holy Spirit at work in peoples lives.   As we continue to read through the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, an essential art of what the author is sharing with us are amazing stories of such radical transformation that the only thing that can account for it is the Holy Spirit. And it begins with Saul.   He is the perfect villain in the story of the apostles.   No one was more opp...
Read more