Painting walls has given me a lot of time to think. Maybe the exposure to paint fumes isn't such a bad thing. As I was painting the bathroom I was thinking of how much I would HATE to be a professional painter. Then, I started weighing the pros and cons of hiring a professional painter to paint for me or at least have a painter bring me refills on blueberry coffee and tell me that I'm doing a good job. Then, I realized how ridiculous of an idea that was and that being a professional painter may not be such a bad gig after all. You would get to make something plain really artsy and beautiful. You get time alone and you don't really have to work directly with anyone (which would be great for those PMS moments).
All of that to say that I started thinking of professions. I thought of all of the careers that would interest me and all of the ones that I would loathe. Professions then moved me into thinking of "God's calling". I know some people that are totally designed for what they do- whether it's a profession they hold or volunteer opportunities that they fill. I know people that have given up the "American Dream" and moved to third world countries to be an aide to those in need. I commend those people for being so sure of what they are meant to do and following it with rare audacity.
My brain threw up a red flag, though, when I was thinking of "God's calling" (as it's referred to in the Christian community). Do I believe that everyone is given specific abilities and talents? Yes. Do I believe that each of us can use those talents in a way that is only specific to us? Absolutely! Are certain people meant to go to certain places to reach certain people groups? No doubt!
But, I also believe that Christians use "God's calling" as a means to put life on hold. How many days and years are wasted as someone waits for "God's calling on their life"! I think that the whole concept is a bit misused. We should want God's best for our lives, but his "calling" is for us to treat those around us with love and respect. It's to take his love to the broken. Why can't we live in that? Why does it always have to look bigger and better? We try to find a "calling" that we feel we deserve.
God, you only want me to live in this small little town the rest of my life? What about Africa? What about finding a cure for cancer? What about helping the orphans? You only want me to be a mom? What about helping build homes in places devastated by the hurricane?
I used to agonize over what "God's calling" on my life was when I was a teenager. I kept knots in my stomach over it and I couldn't come to any conclusion on what God wanted me to do. I had it all wrong. I don't believe that God will make you anxious and keep you in a state of nausea over what he wants you to do. God isn't God to you if you are worried about finding "his calling. I believe God gives you a desire and from there it sparks into something great. God has given me a desire to write, so that is what I am going to do. I'm not always going to be writing to the Christian community. Is God offended by that? No, I don't think so because sometimes as Christians we spend a little too much time in our inner circle. My writing isn't always going to be evangelistic, but it is going to share hope with those that need it (all of us do).
We need to stop waiting for God's calling like it's going to be tomorrow's news. He has given us tools to work with TODAY. Maybe we need to stop analyzing it like it's something that needs to be decoded. Do today what you're waiting to do tomorrow. Move with audacity and courage.
Some are meant to be in India and some in Africa. We're all meant to be proactive.
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