Who’s calling?

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to talk about calling and vocation with many people. I think that all Christians have one call, to love God and neighbor. We do, however, have decisions to make about how we live out that calling.

Often though, that was not what the people I was speaking with understood a calling to be. Frequently they felt they had to do some sort of “official” ministry to serve God. But we all have the same call, to love God and our neighbor. Each of us does have to figure out what that looks like for us. Sometimes people expect this to be clear and unambiguous. They look at some of the stories of calling in the Bible and expect clarity and clear direction. In reality there is not a single way God calls someone into a faithful living.

The story of the call of Samuel helps us set aside the idea that things are always clear and unambiguous. You can read the story in 1 Samuel 3:1-21. In this call story, it takes a while before either Samuel or Eli recognize what is happening. God calls to Samuel four times before Samuel answers correctly. We might expect Samuel to not understand what’s happening, he’s just a boy. But Eli is a grown person and a priest. Given all this, he seems a little slow to figure out what’s happening.

It takes both of them to understand what is happening. Samuel repeatedly goes to Eli, even though three times Eli says, ‘I didn’t call you”. Samuel continues to answer, to respond, even though he’s unclear what exactly is happening. We might expect him to give up, thinking he’s hearing things or that Eli is talking in his sleep or something else. But Samuel persists.

What is Eli thinking when Samuel keeps waking him up? Does he think Samuel is hearing things or sleepwalking? But Eli patiently answers Samuel, until he figures out what’s happening. Together, the young one and the old one, the experienced and not so experienced, keep responding, keep talking until Eli understands what is happening.

This isn’t a clear and unambiguous call. They have to work to understand it.

That’s how calls are sometimes. They are not completely clear. We need others to help us understand. It can be a process. Like Samuel, we know we need to respond- to love God and neighbor- but it may take us a few tries to figure out how we personally are to respond.

Sometimes people think to follow God means a complete change in direction for them- maybe into something they don’t necessarily want to do. Sometimes this is true. But more often, God calls us into a more full expression of our abilities and talents. Samuel was already in training in the Temple. He already knew this was where his future was. God used the abilities and experiences that Samuel had and developed them. This is often true for us as well. There is a reason God gives us interests and abilities and skills. Our task is to grow and develop them. Often following God’s call results in doing what bring us and those around us, joy. And sometimes that means there may be more than one thing we can do to love God and neighbor. Job, family life, hobbies, volunteering; all can fulfill God’s call.

If you are wondering what God is calling you to do, here are some suggestions¹. Be patient. Be kind with yourself. Let yourself explore and dream. Talk with people who know you and with people who have expertise in career counseling. Keep listening to what the Spirit is saying and how She nudges you.

1. My suggestions always come with this caution. If some of this is helpful, I’m glad. If it’s not, ignore it. ↩︎