God's Calling as Listening

 

Throughout the Calling Sermon Series, I have been amazed by the truths that: 1. God rarely calls the perfectly polished or powerful people.  God seems to call people who questions their own ability.  As Parker Palmer says, “You can’t be fully yourself if you are full of yourself.”  When we are willing to admit our fumbles and false starts, I think that is where the seed of the Spirit starts to sink deeper into the soil of our souls.  2. God’s call is rarely an easy to accomplish task.  3.  Often times, following our calling is one step forward then two (or twenty-two) steps backwards.

 

Samuel is called by God.  Samuel hears God’s voice.  God tells Samuel that he needs to go fire his mentor/boss/spiritual leader Eli.  Samuel says, “Come again!”  Samuel sees the difficulty of the task set before him.  Just like Moses had to face his past returning to Egypt.  Just like Jeremiah had to acknowledge his youth and the ways people discounted his voice.  Just like Jonah had to trade in his definitions of who God loved.  Just like Hannah had to cry out for God, wondering if God was listening.  So, too, Samuel is giving a task that will take more than just his chutzpah and courage and curiosity.  Most of the call stories set the person on the pathway s/he never expected or wanted.

 

As we continue to listen for God’s guidance, we do this because we need God’s strength and support every step of the way.  Perhaps during this sermon series, you have tried to follow your fascination and your fears have shown up gnashing their terrible teeth.  Perhaps you have followed your curiosity only to have concerns cause you to veer off course or stop completely.  We get lost following the threads of our calling; we show up knocking on doors where we may not be welcomed or expected.  Callings are circuitous and confounding.  But there are moments, when the light bulb goes on, when the a-ha relief and release floods our bodies, when we sense a trace of God’s grace.

 

For those moments, in those times, we echo Samuel/Moses/Hannah/Isaiah/Mary and proclaim, “Here I am God!”  Remember the phrase from Sunday is both, Here I am – which means behold and ready to serve.  Then, we pray, “Speak for your servant is listening.”  And then, the hard part, we listen for God.  There may not be a magical, neon sign, James Earl Jones voice booming moment that sets us on the path.  In the stillness and silence, the seeds of calling sink deeper into your soul.  In those moments, there is enough grace and love to feed and fuel our life for the next stage of the journey.

 

Prayer: God interrupt my life in intimate ways that let me know, even if I am on the wrong track or running low on energy, You continue to go beside, before, behind, and within me always. Amen.