After I graduated seminary and made it through the candidacy process with the ELCA, I had written roughly a bajillion words about myself. I was so tired of thinking about myself, because professors and candidacy committee members ask you to write a lot about your story, motivations, and sense of call.

As tedious as it got, it was interesting to note that my sense of call changed over time. The way they asked us to describe our sense of call was to identify a call story in the Bible and explain how that story reflected our experiences. We were all asked this question multiple times throughout the process and it surprised me to notice that the story changed based on my current reality. Connecting not just my story, but also my current internal reality and understanding of my life story to Bible stories always offered guidance and insight.

I was asked this question enough times that I seem to have internalized the question. Just a few days ago, a whole different Bible story popped into my head as one the one that captured my current sense of call and experience of ministry. I received this as a great gift and one I now expect to receive again and again as life continues to change.

All our lessons today are call stories that folks in seminary commonly name as descriptive of their call story. Of course, a sense of call is not a thing that only clergy people have. In the Lutheran tradition, we take this idea of the “priesthood of all believers” seriously. We’re all called as Christians to live our faith in the world in some way. We all have spiritual gifts that can serve the world. We just do different things. How we live, work, play, consume, give, volunteer, relate, or manage conflict can all be considered part of our call as Christians.

So, what is your sense of call? It’s sort of another way to ask the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” I don’t care how old you are, I know you’re still asking this question in one way or another. These Bible stories might provide some guidance, but let me demonstrate how this might work for you.

 The first time I answered this question, “What Bible story or scripture reflects your sense of call?”, I said Matthew 4:18-22. This is the same story as our gospel today, but told more simply in Matthew. In that story, Jesus just comes to Peter and Andrew and says, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.” And they just dropped their nets and followed.

I loved the simplicity of this story and its sense of inevitability or even powerlessness that these disciples showed. They just dropped their nets and went. They dropped their worries, their complications, their baggage, their resistance without a word and followed on the road that went somewhere that they could not begin to know. That was the story I named at the beginning of seminary, because that’s what it all felt like. I felt powerless in this tractor beam of God’s call to become a pastor. This story helped me trust that I was not mistaken.

Towards the end of seminary, I named the calling of Moses with the burning bush as reflecting my sense of call. Moses was a stranger, an outsider. Moses couldn’t speak so well. Moses wasn’t sure about God’s wisdom in his selecting him. Despite all that, Moses was still chosen and sent on his way with help. Well, Moses did OK. So, I thought maybe I could trust God’s call more than my fear, too.

Currently, the Bible story that caught my attention was Jacob wrestling with God at the River Jabbok (Genesis 32). They wrestled all night and Jacob refused to let go until he got his blessing. In the Adult Forum, we are wrestling with a challenging book, the Universal Christ. I love it, but it is a wrestling match of sorts. It is also a wrestling match to have some interesting ideas about Lent and Easter that seem to be just beyond my grasp and total understanding. I am wrestling them into reality and clarity. It’s a fun wrestling match, but there’s definitely wrestling involved. Again, seeing my story reflected in the story of Jacob is helping me in my work and I fully expect it is for the good. I’m wrestling til I get my blessing!

I tell you all this to help you begin to wonder about your sense of call right now. Who in the Bible reflects your life, your sense of how you are being called forward to service and action in this beautiful world of ours? Just so we’re clear, you are being called. Also, how you are being called is going to change, because God’s action through you will change. So, what is that story now?

Let’s look at these call stories and see if one of them might just fit you today. In the gospel, Jesus is teaching to the crowds and then turns to Simon Peter and friends to tell them where to cast their nets. Even though Simon Peter knows that this should yield nothing, he obeys anyway. And then he is overwhelmed by the abundance that is brought in by casting his nets into the deep.

How might this experience be reflected in our lives? This reminds me of Everly Vertrees’ story. She just had surgery this past week at the Cleveland Clinic for intestinal malrotation. Her parents and Everly have been on the hunt for solutions for this serious condition, coming up with empty hands over and over. Yet, the call for them was to dig deep and keep looking. Try again! She just had surgery this week and is very early in recovery, but for the first time, she has real hope of this issue being resolved. It’s an abundant, but heavy load to pull into the boat! They need support from their friends to make it happen, but the gift of her health is being hauled in!

What about the Isaiah text? Have you ever felt the call to something that you felt wholly unprepared for and yet still felt picked up by the scruff of the neck and put into action? Has that process perhaps felt painful like fire burning in you as you walked into that new life? I’m thinking of a young woman I know who is a new mom, who loves her baby with her whole being and yet is struggling in this massive transition in her life. She is willing, happy, able, but the transition still burns a bit as she becomes a whole new person while not sleeping.

Paul’s story he shares here is about how he responded to Christ’s call in his life. He had an experience with the ascended Christ, but not the physical Jesus like others had. His response was to work harder than anyone in his zeal. Does this resonate with you in your life? Did you feel so behind the 8 ball in some aspect of your life that you worked harder than anyone? Seemed to want it more than anyone? Doesn’t this sound like the Rocky Balboa story who didn’t have all the fancy stuff or right background, but became a champion because of his massive sense of call, determination, and (of course) Adrian?

This is a time when a lot of people are asking, “What should I be doing?” Well, I invite you to consider this practice of connecting your story and internal experience to a story in the Bible. Afterall, the world can send us running in circles. Circles of distraction. Circles of excitement or outrage. Or perhaps small, slow circles from being overwhelmed or apathetic.

Circles are not what God is calling us to! We can ground ourselves in the truths of the Bible and Christ. We are all called to respond, act, and participate in the world in our own ways, which will change throughout our lives. What story is the story for you in this season of life?

Call stories to consider:

• Esther
• Abraham
• Ruth
• Prodigal Son
• Joseph
• Job
• Jonah
• These stories today…and so many more you could consider.

When you think of your story, parable, or writing, what does it tell you? What’s the guidance? It’s a great conversation to have with your family at the dinner table. Or a conversation to have with a friend, your journal, or with your pastor.

Our world is deeply challenging, personally and collectively. And the challenge of being a follower of Christ in it all is, in some ways, more challenging but also more fruitful, more hopeful, more peaceful, and more powerful. But that power (and all the other good stuff) is easier to put into action when you connect your story, your life and reality, with God’s story in the Bible. It is indeed a good and trustworthy teacher.  

Eventhough I got tired of this question, I was asked this question repeatedly because it is powerful. So, I challenge you to ponder this. It helps to wonder with someone who knows their Bible, too. Tell them about your life, yourself and just wonder. When the story comes, what does it tell you? Write it down, if that helps. Maybe share it in the newsletter! There is so much wisdom there for you and for all of us!

And for that, we say, “Thanks be to God!”

AMEN