Chapter 7

Celebrating the freeing, supportive presence of God. So your experience of God may become your experience of life. It is wonderful what God can do!

DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL NAME AND CALLING

A WORKBOOK

Dr. Doug Wilson

CHAPTER VII

ARE LAY PERSONS CALLED, TOO?

Any study of spiritual style, the way in which we nurture and express ourselves spiritually, leads naturally to the question of "calling." Does the fact that God has given each of us "spiritual styles" imply that He wants us to use our styles in a particular way, for a particular purpose? People usually talk about ministers being "called" to ministry, or preachers being "called" to preach, or individuals being "called" to the mission field. But I believe there are many callings. Preaching is just one.

WHAT IS A "CALLING"?

A calling is specific. Also, there is no better or worse calling, higher or lower calling. There are just different, specific callings by which a Christian serves the "building up of the Body of Christ." And if someone does not sense a calling in his or her life, certainly we are all called to serve, remembering the example of Jesus in washing the disciples' feet. A calling, then, is an inner sense of what God wants you to do with your life, whether inside or outside of your occupation, whether paid or volunteer. There are more typical examples of callings like preaching, teaching, or choir directing. A calling also can be unique. In other words, a calling may fit a person but not the institution, yet. One example may be that of a person who senses a calling to be a parish nurse. Let's go to the Bible to understand what calling is all about. Below is a list of some Scriptures that include "calls" of individuals in the Bible. Look up and study as many examples as you would like. Study other examples in the Bible that you can think of that are not listed here. Then jot down some notes with this question in mind: What does a call include? Or, to put it another way, what are the elements of a call? Take as much time as you need. Choose two or three references or explore as many as you wish. Resource "call" scriptures: Genesis 12:1-4; Exodus 3:1-12, 3:13- 4:19, 4:20-23; Samuel 3:3-18; Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1:4-9; Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 2:41-52; Acts 9:1-31.

SCRIPTURE		ELEMENTS OF A CALL
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SCRIPTURE		ELEMENTS OF A CALL
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SCRIPTURE		ELEMENTS OF A CALL
__________________________		__________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________

As I have dialogued with different groups about these verses, I have heard answers that are unique, yet similar. Typical responses include: a calling involves a person reaching out beyond themselves; a calling is personal to that person; a calling is from God; callings come to persons regardless of age. I would like to add that callings are normally very specific, like the calling of Albert Schweitzer to the ill in Lambarene, Africa. And a calling may be unique, like that of a parish nurse, who seeks to respond to the health and spiritual needs of members of a local church and in the community. I'm glad for the insight you have discovered from your study and reflection as to the elements of a calling. Louis Sherill in his book The Struggle of the Soul indicates that there are three levels of living. Those three levels include living life on a treadmill level, an saga level, and/or a pilgrimage level. An example of the treadmill level of living comes from the illustration of a French naturalist who placed a certain kind of caterpillar on the top of a glass. This particular type hooks its head to the back end of the caterpillar in front of it. The French naturalist wanted to see if the caterpillars who hooked to one another walking around the top of a glass, who would sooner or later, figure out what was going on and break loose. Unfortunately, the caterpillars couldn't figure out their situation and walked around the top of the glass until they died.

Of course, the routines we establish in our lives aren't usually that catastrophic or blind in their effects, but routines or a treadmill level of living only bind us to just a lower level of living. The saga level of living has to do with what I call the "Are we having fun yet?" level of living. I traveled with some church youth on a whitewater rafting trip. As the waves lifted us high into the air, the youth would yell in excitement, "Are we having fun yet?" Many things qualify as sagas or adventures in life: going to Disney World, seeing a Broadway show, going skiing, etc. Yet, as fun as these may be are they "all there is"? Sherrill calls the third level the pilgrimage level of living. I have renamed it the "calling" level. Being "called" implies that there is something beyond the treadmill and saga levels of living, as necessary and fun as they can be. The pilgrimage or calling level of living has to do with the kinds of experiences that Abram, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus and Paul felt compelled to pursue.

You have probably heard the story of Albert Schweitzer. In his book, Out of My Life and Thought, he describes enrolling in a conservatory of music, because he had the talent and thought he could become a great organist. Eventually he discerned that traveling all over Europe performing organ concerts would have been successful but not satisfying to him. So Schweitzer went to theological seminary. Yet attending seminary and learning about theology were not enough for him either. Next he went to medical school and became a doctor. Yet even that wasn't enough. Then he read about Lambarene, Africa, where there was a need for a medical outpost. This is it! he realized. The rest is history. Schweitzer used his organ-playing ability to raise money for the Lambarene medical outpost. His theological endeavors, including his focus on the quest for the historical Jesus, have been an important part of theological discussions for decades. Most importantly for our discussion, he stayed with his struggle to discern his calling. When a doctor or nurse came to Schweitzer professing a desire to assist him in Lambarene, his first question to them was, "Are you sure you are supposed to be here?" In other words, is this your calling?

One further distinction in this matter of "calling": your spirituality has to do with your personal experience of God, by which your life is nurtured. Your calling, however, has to do with how you reach out to others on behalf of God. I realize that these definitions are somewhat arbitrary, but the delineations are important. Each of us needs to find the satisfactions both of allowing ourselves to be nourished by God and of reaching out on behalf of God in the way that fits our gifts. Because our calling from God is a way for God to reach out to the world in ways that otherwise might not happen. Each of us -- and each of our callings -- is vital in God's economy, in God's scheme of things. In order to discover the way(s) God has for you to reach out to others that fit your gifts, let's do a few exercises.

EXERCISE NUMBER ONE:

List anything you've ever been interested in doing, whether you have pursued that interest or not.

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EXERCISE NUMBER TWO:

List any gifts or talents you feel you have. Don't be shy or afraid to admit your strengths.

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Now we're going to do what are called projective questions.

QUESTION NUMBER ONE.

You will need a watch or clock. Take ninety seconds to list what you would like to be doing right now if you had your "druthers," your wish. Don't limit yourself in any way.

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QUESTION NUMBER TWO.

Describe what would be a perfect day for you, a day in which you could do whatever you want. You may wish to describe a perfect work day, a perfect play day, or a combination.

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QUESTION NUMBER THREE.

What words would you like to have written on your tombstone?

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Now it is time to reflect and pray. Looking back on these exercises and questions, what activities/ events/ joys/ tasks surface? Do they lead you in any direction, toward any calling? Jot down any thoughts that come to mind. Sometimes talking to an understanding friend or pastor (who, too, has struggled with a call) can help you clarify your thoughts. Most important, ask God to help you understand what your calling is. Now is the time to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life.

SOME HIGHLIGHT IDEAS

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MY CALLING

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After you have identified what you feel may be your call, look again at the elements of a call you identified earlier. Does your call fulfill some of those elements? Does your call make you feel good in your relationship with God, yourself and others? If needed, find the support you need to fulfill your call - through your pastor, your church, a counselor or special friend.

SOME PRACTICAL TIPS.

1) Trust your call. Just as persons don't trust their experience of God, so many persons don't trust their call. It is much easier, sometimes, to do what you think is your call when actually it is someone else's, ie. a beloved parent, a pastor, or a favorite teacher. Unfortunately this kind of struggle can go on for years. So trust your calling and give yourself the opportunity to fulfill it.

2) If you want to explore a calling but are afraid to do so, that usually means you are on the right track. Your calling will "call" you to be more than you've ever been before, in an area of your life is so important to you that it is hard for you to admit it to yourself, let alone anyone else. The risk seems extra high. Again, this probably means more than ever that you are on the right course.

3) When you identify your calling and decide to pursue it, I guarantee opportunities will open up to express it! You may still be afraid, but take the risk! Each time you follow the calling will confirm its rightness, and the fear will diminish. God already knows ways that your calling is needed to help others.

Let your calling unfold.