Missed Callings

In growing older one of the things that seems to get better with the years is one's ability to understand many things that were once a mystery. As I have gotten older, and have begun to really focus my thought processing on what I believe, I find some things becoming clearer.

I have lost  much of the awe and respect I once had for people that I saw as special messengers of God. Some I still hold in esteem, but many others I find have not had a calling to the task they have undertaken. As an example, I know of people, men and women, who seem to have a definite gift or talent or in church talk “a calling” for certain ministries. And they do a good job. But if they expand their reach and try to fill a role of a different ministry they often find themselves out of their depth.

When these well meaning people step out of their gifting and talent areas they often struggle and sometimes actually fail to make sense of the new role. And often the failure is coupled with shame and or embarrassment because of the failure. And they will sometimes question themselves because they were used to success in their calling. And if they don't have quick and solid support they can talk themselves out of the calling they answered in the beginning.

I don't believe anyone should feel like they have failed in an endeavor after being successful in another. In fact I would counsel anyone wanting to spread out and apply themselves to different ministries or avocations to be very cautious. In ministry especially I believe there will be markers to indicated if we are being called to other areas.

Because I know myself better than anyone else I have to use my experience as an example. I began to teach in a Sunday school at the age of about 25. I was not trained nor schooled to teach, so I imagine I was really not a good teacher. But I did get encouragement and continued and along the way I began to hone my skills. I wrote lesson plans and curriculum at times and began to understand presentation and learn about things such as body posture, tonal inflection and facial expressions. All of these things contribute to how well people will listen to you.

Along the way I was asked to fill the pulpit when the minister was not there. This duty was shared with others because finding time to study for a full length sermon was a lot to expect from a person who worked full time and had a family which included small children. As time went on I found myself filling larger roles in the teaching ministry and speaking in the pulpit.

At the age of 55 I found myself where I believed was my calling in life. I was asked to lead a group that would redesign and formulate a new way of teaching in a christian education environment. I was very excited as this group met to set down guidelines and benchmarks to guide our development.

Through a number of events, the plan never progressed very far. As I began to look for other areas of ministry, I found that I did not have the same tug on my heart for any ministry I could see. I did still feel the call to foreign missions but there were some major obstacles that I knew could not be removed in order to pursue that call. Some have told me that if I was truly called a way would be made. Well, I seriously believe I had the call and I also know the obstacles are not going to be removed.

Now I could find another place to minster. But not feeling the call I am sure I could not accomplish any success there. And as I observe others step out of their calling of ministry into other roles I cringe. It never seems to be done on key. And it is painful to watch.