Readings for Epiphany 5C:
Judges 6:11-24; 1 Cor. 15; Luke 5:1-11
February 4, 2007
The Rev. Karen Faye Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino, CA
Then Jesus said to Simon: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. [Luke 5]
One of my closest friends works in the computer industry. She has been doing this for years, not because she particularly likes the work but because it pays well. About five years ago, she burned out, left her job, and traveled around the world to find herself. Her goal was to determine a purpose in life that was pleasing and decide what kind of work she was called to do. During her year around the world, she tasted the finest wines in Italy, discovered the hidden treasures in the Slavic countries, trekked across the Himalayans, explored the coral reefs of Australia, saw the ancient sites of the Orient, and experienced the colorful culture of South America.
When the trip was over, she had not yet determined her purpose in life nor did she have a clue on what kind of vocation to follow. Out of frustration, she decided to embark upon a two-year Master’s Degree Program in Museum Science, during which she became the #1 student. Being disappointed at the level of pay that museum employees typically earn, she returned to the computer industry where she continues to earn good money, works too hard, and finds little meaning in her work. What went wrong with her discernment process?
Do you ever wonder about the meaning of life? Do you ever wonder what your purpose in life is? Do you ever wonder what you are being called to do? Do you feel yourself in harmony with the rest of creation? Are you aware of the gifts that God has given you? Do you ever ask yourself, “Who am I? Do I matter? What is my place in life?” What I would like to talk about today is hearing God’s call and discerning God’s purpose for your life. I will use today’s readings from the Holy Scriptures as my texts.
Today is an extraordinary Sunday on which all of the biblical readings speak with a single voice. They refer to three different people responding to a deep call. In the book of Judges, Gideon finds himself called to lead the Jewish people into battle in spite of being the youngest in his family and from the weakest clan. At that time in history, the Midianites and others from the East would invade the Israelites, loot their crops and animals, and leave them in dire circumstances and impoverishment. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks about his call to be an apostle of Christ in spite of the fact that he spent much of his adult life persecuting Christians. And in the gospel of Luke, Simon Peter and his fishing buddies are called to evangelize and reach out to others with Good News even though they are uneducated, simple, fishermen with little training. These three stories can offer us insights into moving beyond our comfort zone and hearing a call in a way that offers us purpose and meaning in life. Based on today’s readings, here are a few of my conclusions about discerning call and purpose.
1. You cannot arrive at life’s purpose by starting out with yourself. We were made by God and for God. It is only in God that “we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end. God is not just the starting point of our life; God is the source.”* Gideon, Paul, and Simon Peter were people who knew and loved God and believed that God was at the foundation of their lives. They were not particularly enlightened individuals, and in fact made some poor choices. But because they were grounded in God, they were able to hear a call even though it seemed far-fetched under the circumstances. How different they were from my friend who tried to arrive at life’s purpose by starting with herself and her desires. Focusing only on ourselves will never reveal our true life’s purpose.
2. God usually calls us in the ordinary context in which we find ourselves. We do not need to go to a mountaintop, or into a monastery, or chant with a guru for a few years in order to hear God’s call. Gideon heard his call while working on the family farm. He and his family had been experiencing tremendous injustice, hunger, and oppression. It is within this context that he gained his courage and came to believe that he could defend his people from being invaded again. Paul, a well-known rabbi of his time, was on one of his tirades to imprison Jews who had decided to follow Christ. It was within this context that he came to his senses, experienced the grace of God, and decided to become an apostle of Christ. Simon Peter was a simple fisherman. He had met Jesus and had listened to his extraordinary teachings. It was in this context that he heard a call to leave the fishing industry and spend his primary time and energy being a core disciple.
3. God does not usually strike people with lightning to help people discern their call and purpose. Today’s readings are an exception. That is why they are probably included in the Holy Scriptures. Gideon asked for a sign and received it. Paul was blinded by the sun and fell off his horse. Peter witnessed a fabulous catch of fish. But most of the time, insights and clues are more subtle. So we need to pay careful attention to the small still voice inside. That is why prayer is a key component of discernment. Prayer is listening and responding to God with or without words. And when we finally do hear the promptings, we need to respond.
I remember a time when I was frustrated with my position as a research assistant. I was working in the materials department doing coal combustion research. I was one unhappy camper. I don’t believe God calls us to be unhappy. The truth was, I wasn’t very good at this job because I lacked mechanical ability. One of my duties was to design and build the experiments. When drafting blue prints, I would always forget a hidden line here and there. When the piece of equipment came back, it was never what I had envisioned and I would have to scrap the piece and start over. When it came to building circuits, I would always forget a little something, resulting in blowing up the circuit or creating a dud. And when I actually put the whole experiment together, I would end up either scraping my hands or not being strong enough to tighten the many bolts. In a nutshell, I didn’t have the skill or the passion. I was restless and longed for insight. Then one day, I was reading a journal and saw an ad. It was a subtle ad but one that could not go unmissed. Immediately, the light bulb turned on. I found my answer! What was the revelation? Hazardous Waste! Within a month, I found a job in Hazardous Waste Management, using my skills in applied chemistry, dealing with people rather than circuits. I ended up enjoying my work, doing a lot of good in the field.
4. Don’t let fear or money be the driving force if you are trying to discern God’s purpose for your life. It will limit your options and hinder your ability to hear the voice. Fear is a real show-stopper. Fear is what usually prevents people from making changes. We need to be willing to walk away from what we have always done; to explore the unfamiliar, the unknown. Gideon had to think “out-of the box” about his call to leadership since the traditional wisdom of the day told him he was not qualified. Paul, a very pious Jew, had to leave his respected position as a Rabbi to become a fool for Christ. Peter had absolutely no background in evangelism and yet had enough faith to risk leaving his nets and follow Jesus. For a socially conscious and engaged Christian, responding to God’s call means walking away from certitude and toward a new possibility.
So how do we discern God’s call and purpose for our lives? There are five questions* that Rick Warren suggests we answer in order to gain insight:
1. What will be the center of my life? In other words, what or whom do I choose to worship most? We can center our lives around a career, family, sport, money, having fun, or many other activities. These are all good things but they don’t belong at the center of our life. If we center our life in God, then God’s purpose will be revealed to us.
2. What will be the character of my life? We are called to grow into the likeness of Christ. God is far more interested in who we are rather than what we do. We are human beings, not human doings. “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.” How can you arrange your life so that the fruit of the spirit grows within?
3. What will be the contribution of my life? This question is about service; about making this world a better place in which to live. What gifts has God given you and how are you using those gifts? Is it for the building up of the kingdom? Do you know what your gifts and passions are? If not, it is time to do a little inner exploratory work.
4. What will be the communications of my life? In our baptismal covenant, we promised to proclaim by word and example the good news in Christ. How do you do that on a day-to-day basis and do you use your speech to bless and encourage others, offering them a word of needed grace?
5. What will be the community of my life? In other words, whom do you hang out with? Who influences your journey and decisions? Where do you worship and does your community bring you closer to God?
God is not some person in the sky who has a predetermined role written out for you. There are many possibilities that can bring joy. However, God did create us in God’s image for a meaningful life. For the Christian, this means hearing a call and seeking a purpose that reflects the image of God. It means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God. If you are not experiencing this harmony or meaning, then perhaps you have misused your freedom and have made wrong choices. If so, it is time to choose differently. At the end of our life, what will be most important is not what role we have become, or how much money we have made, or how successful we have been. What will matter in the end is how much we have loved.
“May almighty God give us the liberty of that abundant life which has been made known to us in our savior Jesus Christ.” [Collect of the Day, BCP 216]
[* The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren; Zondervan, 2002.]
| Updated 02/05/07 |
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