Penny Musson has a heart for missions.
As our guest blogger this week, she reflects on the definition and discernment of one’s calling by God.
Penny serves in many areas of the church including our Missions Committee, Love-in-Action,
and as the Co-Leader of The Seekers Class on Sunday mornings.
Thank you, Penny, for sharing such wonderful insight!
The Call
by Penny Musson
On Sunday, January 15th, the lectionary reading on Samuel’s call was the lesson for both our Sunday school class and Ben’s sermon. They were presented from different but relevant view points. After Sunday and since Ellie asked me to reflect on my “call,” the concept has greatly occupied my thoughts. What does it mean to be “called”?
When it comes to describing that, we are generally at a loss. Do we get called and miss it because of all the noise in our heads, do we think it’s someone other than God calling, or do we just put God on hold while we tend to more important daily demands? Maybe the problem is our expectation of how God’s voice will be manifested in our lives. As I reflect on my life, it is difficult to accurately discern “the call.”
From a young age, I felt the nudge. Was being one small voice against discrimination and injustice and a war I did not understand or condone in the 60′s my call? Was changing my major in college to become a nurse and work with cancer patients and their families when very few survived in the 70′s my call? Was advocating for children, nurturing, mentoring, encouraging, and sometimes taking in various children and the occasional lost soul my call? Through all of that I still had a hollow place in my heart and that pesky nudge.
Then I began participating in mission trips with our youth and finally went to Mexico. I knew then that I had received my call. These trips filled my heart with joy and have allowed me to grow in my understanding of myself, my faith, and what God’s will for my life might be. During these experiences I feel complete, but when I’m in my daily routine still there’s the nudge. So maybe that’s not my call.
At this point in my journey, this is where I am. Perhaps “the call” is actually a matter of receptiveness- to being open to God and being in the process of going from self-centered to God-centered. Few of us will be called to be a great prophet. But if we listen with our hearts, He calls us everyday. It may be to care for a parent, spouse, friend, or stranger; to make a call, give a smile or hug, dry a tear, or run an errand; to lead or join a protest; to create an opportunity; to make it possible to dig 3 wells in Africa; to hold the hand of a stranger who does not speak you language but hears your heart.
Mother Teresa said “it is not how much you do but how much love you put into it”. That was the command of Christ to us: to love everyone completely, passionately, unconditionally and in all things. So maybe that is “the call,”… to be open to God disturbing our routine and to pour out love.
Beautifully said. Samuel heard the call, but didn’t recognize that the voice he heard was God’s until Eli told him. Could it be that part of our call as the community of believers is to help each other discern God’s voice?
Wonderful article, Penny. You do so much and give so much of yourself…..would that more of us should do likewise.