What is Calling? (Part 4)

How I understand calling - sensing; accepting; being and doing - is informed by how I understand Jesus’ baptism and what it meant for his discernment.        

Jesus’ life and calling included continual learning about himself and God. His baptism was the catalyst.  He sensed that baptism was critical to his journey and understanding of self.  Heaccepted God’s offering of love.  He went to the desert to be and engage God and self in deeper ways.  When he returned, he did things with authority to change the world.  He was empowered by knowing more about his calling, and how to foster relationship with God.

But, I’m not sure the fully human Jesus knew everything about what that would mean and require.  

Parker Palmer defines vocation/calling as “something I can’t not do for reasons I can’t fully explain and don’t fully understand myself” (Let Your Life Speak).  God calls us in unique ways, gives us just enough understanding, and asks us to trust that we’ll know more as we commit to the journey.  

Despite what he did not know, Jesus said yes.  And he continued to receive from God as he trusted in his ministry of giving.  We too are called to receive and offer in unique ways.  

May you follow the nudges.  May you receive God’s love that empowers.  May you be in relationship with God, self, and others in ways that show that love.   

What is Calling? (Part 3)

I used to think calling was about DOING.  Now I think it is about BEING.

That makes me rethink the balance between giving and receiving.  I have become more aware that I was created, and received the gifts of who I am, due to no effort of my own. I am trying to accept that God loves me for who I am, before I give anything.  I am trying to understand the depths of who I am, and what that means for relationship with God and others.    

I wholeheartedly believe that God loves it when I do good and help others.  I also believe that such offering flows best from connection with my truest self, which results in living and acting without too much calculation and strategy.  I am not true to my core being when I act based on ideas of what Ishould do; when I act because of guilt, comparison, and fear.  That stifles living into calling.    

My deepest self is increasingly aware of the gift of God’s love and how that uniquely manifests in me.  That calls me to BE and DO in response.  The best doing flows from a being that recognizes the limits of knowing and living calling by giving without first receiving.  

What is your truest self?  Who are you as a creation of God?  How do you understand your BEING?  How you name that has a lot to do with calling.  And how you understand your calling is critical to your DOING to co-create with God.

See more about What is Calling? in part 1 and part 2.

What is Calling? (Part 2)

God offers and it’s hard to accept.  That is another way to define calling.  

God offers us much.  Perhaps the hardest things to receive are those that ask us to co-create with God.  It’s easier to receive gifts of sun and rain, than to receive the invitation to shape life by offering our deepest gifts.  It’s hard to accept such an offer because doing so requires us to risk, trust, and confront doubt.  

It’s hard to accept that we can be part of God’s plan for the world.     

Calling can be to faith, relationship, family, community, place, service, leadership, and more. In each there is an offer that empowers, but also leads to paths and places we cannot control.  

It’s hard to follow God into the unknown.  

God offers and it’s hard to accept.  Have you sensed a calling that affirms this? What was offered?  Why was it hard to accept?  What did you need from God and others to say yes? 

What is Calling? (Part 1)

Calling is a sense that something bigger than you invites you to greater purpose; that risk and trust are required; and that saying yes will ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of self. 

However, each person may understand it differently.  Part of exploring calling is understanding what it means to you.  How broad or narrow is it?  What areas of life does it touch?  What has grabbed you?

The way you define calling will impact how you seek, listen, discern, and act.  A better question than What is calling? is What does calling mean to me, right now?

How do you understand calling?  

Explore Calling Over Lunch

Join me on 4th Tuesdays each month (EXCEPT August) at 12:30 pm at The Potter’s House to explore calling.  

Calling is a sense that something bigger than you invites you to greater purpose; that risk and trust are required; and that saying yes will ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of self.  Part of exploring calling is understanding what it means to you.  How broad or narrow is it?  What areas of life does it touch? What has grabbed you?

Join others to explore calling by sharing experiences, gifts, and desires.  Honor stories, questions, insights, faith, and doubt.  Welcome how your sense of call might open you – and others – to something greater.  These discussions have no rules or requirements.  All are welcome. 

The Potter’s House reopened earlier this year after an extensive remodeling of its coffeehouse, bookstore, and community space.  Founded by the Church of the Saviour five decades ago, it is a unique place where faith, culture, politics, justice, and more converge.  

In addition to my 4th Tuesday discussions on “Exploring Calling,” you may be interested in others:

1st Tuesdays: Dismantling Racism with On the Damascus Road
2nd Tuesdays: On the Way with Inward/Outward 
3rd Tuesdays: Faith and Money Network
4th Tuesdays: Exploring Calling with Being with Between

May you find special places like this to explore what needs attention.