The Call of God

Jeremiah 1:4-10

The word of the LORD came to me saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the LORD said to me,

"Do not say, 'I am only a boy';

for you shall go to all to whom I send you,

and you shall speak whatever I command you,

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you,

says the LORD."

Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me,

"Now I have put my words in your mouth.

See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,

to pluck up and to pull down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant."

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When I was going through the ordination process one of the things I was asked to do over and over again was to share my call story. The story that tells the way in which God was actively moving in my life up to the present moment and how I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was called to ordination. What’s funny about sharing your call story is that each and every time you share it it’s a little different – different pieces stand out for you. Things that you left out the first or second time suddenly seem important to share.

But for all the times I shared that story I never had a Jeremiah experience of being called before I was born. My mother would tell you that I was since she wasn’t supposed to be able to have children and when she found out she was pregnant she dedicated me to God before I was born. Before my ordination to the priesthood, my mother reminded me that she knew I was called to be a preacher, but she wasn’t sure it was to be a priest!

This reading from Jeremiah takes us not only into deep questions of vocation but it also takes us deep into the heart of God. You see this text promises us that God has a plan for each of our lives. Your call story might be different from mine – not all of us are called to ordained ministry.

Your call story might be how you met your spouse or partner. It might be how you got your current job and the way in which you have a deep inner sense that you’re doing exactly what God wants you to do. Many times I believe we think that a call story has to involve a call to ordained ministry, but God calls people to be bankers, doctors, accountants, librarians – God needs people in every job and vocation.

Being called to something also involves discernment. Discernment involves judging what you believe God is calling you to and it’s hard work. God is constantly calling – many times we have to tune our ears to hear it. We have to go to places where the noise of culture is silent – sometimes on a spiritual retreat or spending an afternoon hiking a path, just someplace quiet that takes us out of our normal routine so we can hear God clearly.

As most of you know, I just returned from a sabbatical where I had some time to step back and reflect on my vocation and calling. After much prayer and discernment and listening to these words from Jeremiah, I believe that now is the time for me to begin looking for a rector position. There’s nothing immediate – I don’t have any plans to go anywhere anytime soon and the average search takes two years. But this is a typical cycle in an associate’s life. There comes a day when you believe that God is calling you to move on to a different work. I’ve deeply loved my time here at All Saints’ and have learned so much and grown so much as a priest, especially as a preacher. Rest assured that as things move forward in my discernment process you’ll be the first to know when something exciting happens.

Jeremiah had many excuses to offer to God about why he shouldn’t be called to this work – mainly his age. Isaiah felt that he was of “unclean lips” – I’ve always wondered if this meant he liked to run around cursing a lot. Moses said he had a speech impediment or stuttered. Jonah gets on a boat and goes the other direction.

What’s your excuse? What’s keeping you from following God’s call? Whatever it is if it’s a true call from God you’ll see doors opening up and a way where there seemed to be no way before. So trust in the slow, steady work of God to lead you and guide you and rest assured that God has a plan for each of our lives. Amen.