Call Reflections
A Call Reflection
What does it mean to be called by God? For the duty-bound Catholic, certainly we are called to do what is right, follow the Ten Commandments, and serve others. But there is more, much more.
I realized this a few months back. The idea of being “called” was the focus as I prepared to lead a Faith 365 group. Each week, as those who participated will recall, we explored callings from God – calling when you least expect it, or calling in a time of illness, or calling at the end of your life. I began to think a lot about God’s calling in my life as a result of those Faith 365 discussions.
So often I call upon God to guide me, provide for me, change me. God work a miracle for me, I’ve prayed. The conversations always involve me doing all the talking. For most of us, that’s how prayer works. But there is more to it. To fully, and intimately engage with God, the relationship must be reciprocal. That’s the piece that was missing for me – fully understanding that as I call upon God, God calls upon me. This is what calling is about on a deeper, more personal level. It is not just about calling to God, but quietly, introspectively, intently, listening for the whisper of his call in return.
In realizing this, I have a new awareness of the workings of the spirit in my life. Odd coincidences. Unusual encounters. Unforeseen opportunities. As I look back, I can see so many gently maneuvered twists and turns where I called to God and he called to me over the years. There have been abundant blessings driven by callings, heard somewhere within my heart, I have no doubt. My spiritual journey continues to evolve and become more purposeful, more devout, more personal than I ever had imagined as I embrace calling more fully.
As long as I continue to tune into callings, – as I came to better understand in Faith 365 – I am a witness to the extraordinary. I am awakened to a new level of intention as I pray and a new level of connection with God. Together, quite literally, there is a beautiful harmony in this ongoing rhythm where a calling spoken, is a calling heard, is a calling acted upon between God and I.
It is profound.
– Colleen Lang
What does it mean to be called by God? For the duty-bound Catholic, certainly we are called to do what is right, follow the Ten Commandments, and serve others. But there is more, much more.
I realized this a few months back. The idea of being “called” was the focus as I prepared to lead a Faith 365 group. Each week, as those who participated will recall, we explored callings from God – calling when you least expect it, or calling in a time of illness, or calling at the end of your life. I began to think a lot about God’s calling in my life as a result of those Faith 365 discussions.
So often I call upon God to guide me, provide for me, change me. God work a miracle for me, I’ve prayed. The conversations always involve me doing all the talking. For most of us, that’s how prayer works. But there is more to it. To fully, and intimately engage with God, the relationship must be reciprocal. That’s the piece that was missing for me – fully understanding that as I call upon God, God calls upon me. This is what calling is about on a deeper, more personal level. It is not just about calling to God, but quietly, introspectively, intently, listening for the whisper of his call in return.
In realizing this, I have a new awareness of the workings of the spirit in my life. Odd coincidences. Unusual encounters. Unforeseen opportunities. As I look back, I can see so many gently maneuvered twists and turns where I called to God and he called to me over the years. There have been abundant blessings driven by callings, heard somewhere within my heart, I have no doubt. My spiritual journey continues to evolve and become more purposeful, more devout, more personal than I ever had imagined as I embrace calling more fully.
As long as I continue to tune into callings, – as I came to better understand in Faith 365 – I am a witness to the extraordinary. I am awakened to a new level of intention as I pray and a new level of connection with God. Together, quite literally, there is a beautiful harmony in this ongoing rhythm where a calling spoken, is a calling heard, is a calling acted upon between God and I.
It is profound.
– Colleen Lang