As I dug rows for the corn, sweat dripping down my face, a robin chirped from a nearby tree. What a simple life that robin has. Not easy necessarily, but simple. His goals are to feed himself, avoid predators, find a mate, and raise a family. Then he flies south for the winter and returns in the spring to do it all over. That goal is the same for every robin. Simple and basic.
Some people have similar goals—just to survive and raise a family, enjoy some relaxation, and have a few friends. For those who live in areas of poverty or in war zones, this goal may be all they can manage. It may take all their time and energy to stay safe and keep their family fed. For those in easier situations, it is a choice. Their focus is on family or a circle of friends, and they put their energies there, choosing to ignore larger issues or concerns.
For some of us, however, this is not enough. We feel called to something greater, something beyond ourselves. That calling may come in a number of forms—caring for foster children or adopting special needs kids, cooking in a soup kitchen, building houses for the poor, raising money for a good cause, marching to raise awareness of some important issue. These are just a few ways we may use our gifts. For some it may be as simple as taking meals to someone who is sick, helping a friend fix his car, or providing a home where neighbor kids can play safely after school. Some may not even realize they are following a calling; they just think they are being a good neighbor.
For me, the calling involves words. I have loved books and writing since I was a child. Although I’ve spent thousands of dollars on writing books, conferences, and courses to develop that gift, I still see it as a gift from God. I could no more stop writing than I could stop going to church. Both are too much a part of me. I do slack off at times—when work gets extra-busy, when we take a vacation, or when family needs fill my time. But then I return, eager to see where God will lead me in this venture, happy to hear that, every so often, someone is touched by my words.
What has God called you to do, and how has that affected your life?
