Part of the story of my call to ministry is remembering and recognizing that many people who knew and loved me (especially from my church family - First Presbyterian Church in Alliance, Nebraska) identified a call to ministry a long time before I did.
When I was 15 or 16 years old, my pastor, Reverend John Wilson, asked me to come into his office sometime after school. He told me that he recognized within me gifts of leadership and ministry and asked me if I had ever considered becoming a pastor when I grew up. I laughed. I told him (with all the confidence of a teenager) that I had in fact considered the path to ministry...but I thought it would be my second career. You see, I was convinced that I needed to make a million dollars first. I thought the best way to do this was to study physics and engineering and get one of those "high-paying" engineering jobs." I claimed (with an earnest, straight face) that I thought I'd be a millionaire by the time I was 30...maybe 35...and then, only then would I "retire" from engineering and go to seminary to become a minister. To his credit, Reverend John Wilson did not laugh at me or dismiss my plan, but planted a seed and opened a door.
I did begin college with every intention of becoming an engineer. For nearly 3 years at Hastings College, I majored in Math and Physics and was on the "pre-engineering" track. The trouble was this: I was a horrible math student. I simply could not do Calculus. I was miserable trying to be something that God did not intend for me to be.
And so, midway through my junior year of college, I began to discern a call to ministry (most certainly a call away from upper-level math courses!) I went home for fall break and I made an appointment to talk to Reverend John Wilson about seminary. I had forgotten our conversation nearly 5 years ago until her reminded me. That's when it all clicked. I was called to ministry. I began to explore seminaries. My last three semesters at Hastings College were much happier as I began to take every religion and philosophy and history and literature class I could (I ended up earning a BA in Music from Hastings College).
What I remember most about those first few months of being able to proclaim loudly to people "I want to be a minister" is that the people who loved me the most either said: "Amen" or "We knew that all along...we were just wondering when you would figure it out." It has been truly blessed to discover and live into my vocation and I am still confident that I am doing the work that God intended for my life.
You might think that is an easy thing for me to say...since I serve a church as an ordained minister of word of sacrament. But my hope is that everyone can say with confidence that they are doing the work that God intended for their lives. Here's the thing: I want to remind you that
God can use you on whatever road or career path you find yourself on. The trick
is to use your gifts – to figure out what it is that you are good at – and to
that to the glory of God. I was trying to be good at calculus...when clearly I wasn't (and no, you can't see my college transcript!).
Scripture is filled with people whom God uses.
Abraham, Moses and David were all shepherds…and God used them to become
shepherds of God’s chosen people. Many of the 12 disciples were fisherman,
simple fisherman from small towns…and God called them to be fishers of people.
Matthew, a tax collector, did paperwork for the government…and God used him to
put on paper the story of Jesus’ life on earth – the gospel of Matthew. Paul
was a tent maker…and God called Paul to be a builder of churches in places like
Rome and Ephesus ,
and Galatia .
Luke was a physician…and God called Luke to tell the story of Jesus offering
healing for all of humanity.
Let me remind you this
day, this labor day weekend--and every day--that whether you are a teacher or a farmer; a banker or a school nurse; a
butcher, baker or candlestick maker that we all serve the same God…and that God
is calling us to labor for the kingdom of heaven. I Corinthians 3:8 says: “The
one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will
receive wages according to the labor of each…for we are God’s servants.”
I believe (as does the Psalmist) that God has made each of us
as fearfully and wonderfully made – and God intends for our lives to reflect
glory. We don’t all need to be heros to live a heroic life. We simply have to
use our gifts to glorify God. When I was in high
school, I was on the golf team. I did bring me great joy when I managed to hit the ball straight, but I clearly am not meant to swing a golf club for a living. I love to play basketball...all 5'6" of me (and I can't jump). I do experience joy when I actually make a basket, but clearly I am not meant to play hoops for a living. But God did give me a spirit of compassion and a
listening heart and some other gifts that I think make me a minister, a preacher, a pastor. And I know from the great joy I experience through the ups and downs of church life that I am doing the work that God intends me to do. My favorite scripture verse has long been Romans 12:15. In this passage, Paul is describing some of the marks of the Christian character and the Christian community. Romans 12:15 reads: "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." For me this describes my life in ministry. I get to rejoice with others at the best moments in life - weddings and births and high school graduations. And I get to weep with others at their darkest, most trying moments - times of great loss and deep sadness. And through it all, I know that I am following God's call and living out God's intention for my life. (And there are times when I fall short...but that is for a different time).
I hope that you can also find that place where you live as God intends, finding joy in reflecting God's glory in all you do.
Amen and amen,
