calling

We met this morning for a leadership retreat at our church to share and celebrate what God has been up to in and through our body, to spend time in worship, and to collectively look ahead of us into the future a bit.  Over one hundred leaders in the room.  It was so, so good to hear from people in our body and to listen to the movement of God through their voices.  I desire processing and discerning from this day for a good spell ahead.

I was paying particular attention to many comments throughout the morning, but it was during one time of sharing that tears began to well up and my mind has been fixed since ....that's when I know I better pay attention.  The sharing done was about the discernment and transition process for a bringing a new leader for Orchard Hill in the next six years.  The issue on which my mind is stayed is that of calling.

The person who will lead this church must be undeniably called by God. I think I got teary because the call of God is so powerful...so irrevocable....so compelling.....so right.....so burdensome......so difficult.

On the one hand, you cannot NOT follow the call of God, you feel compelled, you cannot rest and find peace until you do.  When you are in the way of God's calling, you know it, you feel carried along by God, you have great passion, and you recognize His work in and through you.  You feel like you're coming into your destiny and purpose.  There is no deeper joy and grace and dependence found than here.

On the other hand, though you feel Kingdom rightness and gain, there is much death and loss to undergo.  The way is treacherous, and it is foolish to those with eyes and values of the world.  There is hardship and struggle and suffering and sacrifice at multiple levels.  The burden is heavy.  It is lonely.  It is hard, often unpopular, dangerous,  risky, and it is costly in the ways of this world.  I am familiar with only a bit of this cost at this point in my call but enough struggle to feel deeply moved to pray for the future leader of Orchard and for all leaders as they move with courage into the calling that God has for them.

That's why we so need the Fellowship of Christ around us...to pray, listen, discern with...to give courage to one another so that we might walk forward in obedience and en-couragement, to sharpen one another as God equips and empowers His Church to do His bidding as He reconciles the world through Christ.
  
"The way is fraught with danger."  A mentor far, far, far ahead of me on the journey of Christian Community Development sat straight across from three years ago, looked me in the eye, and spoke those words.  At the time, I could only begin to guess what he meant. I have a slight taste in my mouth now of what dangers lurk on this journey, so what a reassurance it is to remember "The battle is the Lord's".  It is Christ who works and calls and empowers and reigns as King.   May we trust and loyally follow as His servants.