HEY YOU GUYS!

CALLING- ORIGIN late Old English ceallian, from Old Norse kalla ‘summon loudly.’ (New Oxford American Dictionary)

So often I hear the phrase “God’s calling.” (either as a verb: God IS calling or as a noun: his calling. Hey, I teach English.) At times this phrase gets mixed up with emotions and questions in a time when the future looks grim. Sometimes this euphemism takes the place of parents saying GET A JOB. Other times it’s a lovely term to encourage people in their chosen path of life. But I think the definition gives us a clearer and more accurate idea of calling. From there, we might derive how God uses the word calling according to his character.

The aforementioned definition could be said “TO summon loudly” or “THE loud summon. Either way I suspect God is making some noise, some big noise (think home game opener for you Seahawks fans!) God’s hollering, angels are busting out the trumpets, newspapers are flying off the press with a new headline for the Heavenly Herald, and dogs are probably barking with excitement. All for what? Is God shouting out orders like a sergeant? Are the angels blasting out a command to follow? Are the headlines demanding action? Are the dogs barking AT you like a old-cranky teacher?

Nope. Just the opposite.

To summon means to call someone to attendance. Usually it comes with some urgency and it might include a demand in the end, but first and foremost, a summons means “come here.” When God calls us he begins by asking us to draw near to him.
Why is that so important?
1) Remind his children of his love and hope for their life.
2) Show them the place to come with questions, concerns, anxiety, and wonderings.
3) Encourage and fill them up for the task ahead.
4) Connect the dots of passion, talents, and the needs of the world in order to address them with energy.
5) Finally, give orders.

We are all called. All summoned. All meant to be reminded, shown, encouraged, connected, given. Therefore, if the calling is to change our attitude, change our lifestyle, or change our world, we ALL receive a call (LOUD SUMMON) from God. I hope that the shouting includes #1 fingers, big hugs (or slaps on the butt if that’s your style) and a response by you which causes you to go and attend to summons.

"Let yourself be summoned by the love of Christ; His voice which rings in the temple of your heart. Have no fear of the fact that the response He requires is radical, because Jesus, who first loved you, is ready to give what He asks of you. If He asks much it is because He knows that you can give much." -Pope John Paul (emphasis mine)