Voices: What Does it Mean to be Called?

Today I was reading the book "The Writing Life" by Annie Dillard while drinking coffee at the local Barnes and Nobles. I was struck by Dillard's description what life is like as a writer; moved by her dramatic, metaphorical explanations of "the writing life".

It has been a stark reality of late that nearly everything I read or encounter in my day-to-day life leads me to question my understanding of "callings" and what that implies for my life. It is undeniable ( at least from my observation  that Ms. Dillard is called to be a writer. In seeing her calling, I am compelled to question my own.

While the use of the word "calling" is generally a religious one, it is not a topic that is overlooked by the unbeliever or the pagan worshiper. Christianity has coined the term, even among those who do not hold to a high view of sovereignty. Growing up in the Church, I often heard statements like " have you received the calling?", "How do you know if you are called?", or "What do you believe God is calling you to?"

If you think about it, everyone questions calling. Even if you don't believe in God-it still holds true that there is "calling". Often people ask the following questions (which I believe to be intimately related to the subject of calling): "Who am I?", What do I enjoy?", "What makes me happy?", What is my purpose?", "What am I good at?", "What am I terrible at?", or even "Why is my life the way that it is?"

These are fundamental questions of discovering one's self and figuring out what one's desires to do with his or her life. I believe that they are deeply and strongly connected to this sense of "calling" that is imprinted on our souls.

I could write a whole thesis paper on the topic of calling and ask a thousand philosophical questions on the matter due to how complex this topic real is.

Instead...let me share just a few of the thoughts that came to me as I drank my coffee this morning.

How do we view calling? Do we limit it to Church work and the priesthood? Or do we understand calling in a much more profound way? If we limit "calling" to ministry  then are we not undermining God and His interactions with humanity? Additionally, are we not giving Church leadership an unhealthy elevation and setting ourselves up for disappointment? Many have been given the hearts and skills to lead and minister to people. They are servants of others, not people to be elevated. (A philosophy that I believe is well portrayed in the Anglican tradition specifically, and hopefully will one day be among others as well *cough cough Catholic cough*)

If you had asked me earlier today to explain calling I might have given the following statement:

"The difference between the uncalled blacksmith and the called blacksmith is this. The uncalled smith works hard in misery through blood, sweat, and tears to form and create tools for people so that he can receive money to purchase his wants and desires. The called smith toils and works hard in misery through blood, sweat, and tears for the sheer joy of taking the unshaped Earth, feeling the heat of the furnace as he manipulates the formerly unusable material into something of purpose, whether it be forming tools of beauty or weapons of war. He does not do it for the money, though he will glad receive it to continue doing his desired task, but he will sacrifice for it and pour a little bit of his soul into every thing he makes. Even if he incites angry and/or hatred of his loved ones for not working a field that brings about a more luxurious lifestyle."

I believe that this statement is still true...however, I must rethink my understanding of calling and ask "is there more than one kind of calling in life?" I believe the answer is yes. The is the understanding of calling that implies that one has been give skills, gifts, and talents for the purpose of vocation and purpose for life.


Is calling something that is always enjoyed? No

Is calling always vocational? No

Does everyone have a calling? Yes

Does everyone discover their calling? Yes, but not necessarily before departure from the physical world.


There is, however, another aspect of calling. You are called to be where you are now. Don't believe me? Are you saying that Moses wasn't called to be in the desert before being sent back to Pharaoh? Why? Did God not lead him to his future Father-in-law who would one day help him organize the government for Israel? Did God not lead him to brokenness to be used as a leader? Is not God choosing your family and your time of birth not enough to say that you are where you are because you are called to be there? It used to be understood that your calling was to do the trade that the family you were born to did. Very few did otherwise, and those who did were either in the military or joined the priesthood.

I'm not saying that God ordains every action or movement...I'm saying that God has called humanity to be holy and to be :Christian"; to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.We who are born into the 21st century are lost in a world of choices and "freedom" to do what we want, but in the midst of it we often miss our calling as members of humanity and Christiandom because we fret over whether we are called our not and look for signs in the stars or for miracles to tell us our fate. Often we even are filled with fear over what our "calling" might be. Was anyone called  to Africa that did not desire to go? God made people in such away that they would desire Hid glory be spread to the far reaches of the world and they went and Africa and Asia became the callings of many.

He gave us desires, gifts, abilities, and His duel command of love...now go in your free will to do the things that he has sovereignly made possible for you to do. That is your calling is it not? Go to love and serve God by worshiping Him and enjoying His creation; loving others in such  a way that it is undeniable that Christ lives within you.

Peace be with you,

Stephen