Lenten Writing Prompt #25
Write about being called. God can call us to do many different kinds of things. What was the experience like when you felt called? Was that experience similar to a character in the Bible's experience? What have you been called to do and what are you doing about it?
Prompt #26 The Call
ReplyDelete(PS. It's important to pay attention when God Calls. --- Look what happened to Jonah!!)
When I was 16, I first felt God Call
I wanted to be a nun
or a deaconess
I felt drawn to helping and serving others
I wanted to be a part of a Community of like-minded women
who spiritually nourished each other
I did research
I knew we didn't have nuns in the Lutheran Church
And my Pastor told me that Lutherans didn't have deaconesses anymore (he was wrong)
I still felt God's Call
But, it faded away
while Life called
college, marriage, babies, and a lot of church in-between
I answered mini-Calls:
Sunday School Teaching, choir, youth group leader, Circle Bible Studies,
parenting, Godmothering, Marriage Encounter,Harvest Festivals, Women of the Church
Sunday School Superintendent, choir director, Mother/Daughter Banquets,
Church Preschool Director, Camp Fire Girls, teaching in the Inner City, and more!
You'd think that would be enough!
But, still,The Call was there
tucked away, in a corner of my heart
waiting for me to be ready
I did more research
I discerned that a Deaconess was a profession, as well as a Vocation
(You need a Master's degree and a serious job)
I didn't need that
I felt called to something that I didn't know existed
--- but it did!!
Then, when I had almost given up;
when I was finally ready, but didn't know it
--- at Mid-Life ---
I discovered, by chance (?),
a Religious Order for Prayer, Service and Evangelism
The Order of the Daughters of the King
It had been around since 1885!
All that time, right near me
and I never knew it
But, now, I was ready
I went through the Preparation Period
and was Admitted September 2012
I helped Institute a new Chapter in March 2014
a year later, we Instituted a Junior Chapter in March 2015
(The first Lutheran Junior Chapter in the United States)
Now, I am busier and more fulfilled than ever
It may have taken 63 years to finally find my Call
But, it was worth it
God was still waiting
and God never gives up
We will find God's Call, if only we don't give up
fHs
Sara
We are glad you were open!
DeleteThe Call to Follow
ReplyDeleteIn the garden
they reached for the fruit
and took control
and took charge
and made a decision on their own
and made it happen
and “made it so”
and “did it THEIR way”
and saw “NO LIMITS”
and KNEW what was right
and knew THEIR truth
and had their own power
and bit the apple
and swallowed the illusion
Another one
prayed in a garden.
He argued
“This is not a good idea.
I do NOT want this!
There must be another way,
there must be,
there must.”
Finally
he held out his hands
to be arrested.
He knew where this was going
and He let go
to die
…and to live
And to this day
both of them
call us
to follow…
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ReplyDeleteME?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, someone should work on that.
That group helped me. I'd like to be part of it.
Calling for a Chair, an officer, active spokespeople?
Someone needs these resources.
How can they not know?
Speak in public, me?
Share my deepest experiences? Was taught to keep those quiet.
Publish my writing? About Faith?
That's putting myself out there.
What if I do? What if I don't?
Is Jesus saying "Follow Me?"
Okay, they probably won't accept it anyway.
They did? Oh, Oh!
So here I am, alive and able to serve
wherever I am today.
I may not do it perfectly,
but I will try, keep on listening,
sharing, caring, and for myself also.
Show me, lead me,
help me, come with me.