The Call To Be Wild

Reading Jeremiah's call story for Sunday's worship reminds me of the day I sat above the Wentz Library on the first day of 'summer Greek', my very first day in a seminary class. We sat in a circle and took turns breaking the silence to share our call stories. It was fascinating! I heard such a range of experience from seasoned naval veterans to students right out of college. Some seemed to have been following God's call for a while, others had been fighting it quite determinedly. Still through the stories there were similarities. Each of us had encountered God in some way. Many of us had encountered God again and again yet at some point the 'call' became insistent.  Many of us found good reasons to doubt that we were hearing correctly. Surely God needed the capable and well-equipped leaders for Christ's church. We were reminded again that day as we were assured all along the way, "God doesn't call the equipped, God equips the called."

Did we like Jeremiah get a sign that we were on the right path? Only after having taken the first step in faith knowing that we had to follow this call. (Mine was finding out that seminarians received a discount at the local candy store. Chocolate is always an affirmation of call!) I found a quote I love in my reading,

"Vocation exacts a price and not all can pay it. . To follow the vocation does not mean happiness, but once [the call] has been heard, there is no happiness for those who do not follow." (Gilbert Meilaender quoted by Philip Thompson, Interpretation Jan 2008)

I guess that summed up our experience up to that first day of seminary. We were there, in our first class and we were following the call we could not resist.

Now, we are six years into our various callings and all in different places along the journey. We hear and follow the same call even if the voice at times grows faint or the circumstances seem less vital.  Jeremiah continued to hear God's call and his journey was never easy. Michelangelo may have shown it best on the Sistine Chapel wall. (See side bar picture.) A brooding Jeremiah with the two muses of a prophet behind him.  Ron S. Hartsville expresses it like this at Goodpreacher.com

But hovering behind the wizened Jeremiah are the two Muses of every veteran ministry: The beaten-down personna on the left, with downcast eyes and defeated countenance, representing the urge to give up; to succumb to the despair of defeat, and the cynicism born of failure to convince. But the figure on the right seems animated by resolution. She wears a robe and hood as if preparing for a long journey. She symbolizes the hope for the future, and determination to persevere on the pilgrimage of faith, because steadfastness and faithfulness are what God is about, and what a prophet of any era is called to be.

Answering God's call is a step toward faithfulness and the beginning of a journey walking close to God. Our call stories, the moments when we remember, like Jeremiah that our lips were touched, are what keep us going no matter what the 'life of call' brings.

Back To Work

I love my 'work'. It's hard to call it that at times because this vocation is integrated with my life. I remember when I was first experiencing 'call' I longed for work where I could get up and do what I really enjoyed. I wanted to spend time reading scripture and writings about scripture. Along with that study, I wanted to talk about the message of scripture and the life of a Christian. Now I am a pastor and I do get to do all those things, when there is time that is. :-)

There are other parts of this 'work' that take time away from study, but I enjoy those also; visits with elderly and ill, counseling people in crisis by mostly listening, planning for the future and adding my voice to meetings. I love that the meetings are capably chaired and well organized. The pastor's voice is one among many, always consulted but not looked to for all the answers. There is such health in this congregation.

And then there are the times of discernment. There are never enough of those times. This post-vacation week is a good time for discernment. Even as the busyness of newsletter writing and worship planning begins again, there will be time to think about the future and to listen for where God is calling us. Or so I hope.

For now, it's back to 'work'. Always a bit of a struggle coming off vacation, but just remembering the joy of this vocation should get me through the day (and tonight's meeting). I wish as much for anyone who reads this today.

God's Call

One's personal life is all consuming it's without a doubt. In recent days I've noticed the stock market roller coaster ride and I've seen most debates, some baseball playoffs, and know of the Redskins win. But I missed the Blog Action Day, I'm behind on my Women's Retreat preparation, and I didn't finish reading today's headlines. All because I've been focused on the process of being called to a new congregation. Certainly it's been a self-focused experience in some ways and an 'other-focused' experience in another way.

My D.E. used the phrase, 'lean on the door' to describe the discernment process. He said, "Don't make any decisions, just lean on the door and see if God's spirit responds. See if it opens." I love the expression and the image. I leaned, it opened, and December 1 I begin as pastor of the Arlington Church of the Brethren.

Change is never easy so telling the youth of the congregation where I currently serve is the hardest. Implementing transitions and leadership will be plenty of work. Finishing, without trying to do everything, will be a challenge. Preparing for Advent while getting up-to-speed on a new congregation will be - well I don't know what it will be like, but I'm looking forward to it none-the-less. Perhaps best of all is the feeling that I am following God's lead. Certainly it serves me well because it is a unique opportunity for me to lead and be in partnership with a great group of people who are also following God's lead.

"God's Will" is a concept that is often used to explain the misunderstood or justify self-interest. It's important to me to declare my self-interest in this call while recognizing that there is more to it. Because God is able to use us - anyone, anywhere - if we are open to the Spirit's leading and willing to 'lean on the door'. Rather than getting too busy with details while moving away from one call and to another, the challenge will be to discern the faithful path and remain honest about the pleasure and pain I incur. The challenge is to keep leaning and listening all during the busy transition, always discerning the call of God which never ends.