1:4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were
born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
1:6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for
I am only a boy."
1:7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you
shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I
command you,
1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says
the LORD."
1:9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD
said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth.
1:10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck
up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to
plant." (NRSV)
This story of calling has been one of great inspiration for me, especially v. 6. "But God, I can't do it, I am only a boy." (Beth Paraphrase)
I think we do this, or I do this. There are times when I feel a yearning or a draw to use my passions and/or gifts a certain way, yet I don't fully believe that I can do the thing that I am drawn to. There was a time in my life when I might not feel that I should use my gifts or passions in a way that I felt a particular yearning, that I would feel guilty about having so much fun or for something to be somewhat easy. (I have moved on from this!)
I have said many times that God invites us to use all of who we are to be co-creators with God, to make a difference in the world, in the lives of people and creation, to share God's love with others. God invites us to use our gifts and passions! Sometimes those are undiscovered even to us and sometimes our response is about our own fear.
God, I can't possibly do it, I am just a _____.
HUCC, you are that church (in the notes from the Pastors in the Epistle) that was approached by Habitat and our initial reaction was "we can't do it, we are small.) That was the same response when we first began to talk about re-settling a refugee family. Look at what we have done!!!
And even more importantly, look at how these (and many other) experiences have changed our lives!
What would happen if we (I am about to be a bit "cliche") Let go and let God?
What would happen if, when we felt a yearning or an invitation, maybe it is in the form of a strong interest. What would happen if we responded with "help me to follow that path"?
Reflection:
- What is the thing(s) that you are feeling a yearning toward?
- Could it possibly be God inviting you to live your passion(s)?
- How are you filling in the blanks--God I can't possibly __________, I am only a _________.
- How would you/your life be different if you followed that yearning?
- How would those around you be different?
One of the connections between the Corinthians passage and the Jeremiah passage for me come in the mix of pronouns ... plural and singular. Our individual journeys with God are important, but I have long believed there are depths we just can't reach alone. Sometimes we need a community to journey with to reach what God is calling us to. I have been part of communities in the past that took me to places I could not have gone otherwise; but it is just as true I am still looking for the community/ies with whom I will travel to what/where is next. I am dreaming of and hopeful for what kind of traveling I will do with HUCC.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Tammerie; I hope this journey that we are on together is an exciting one, leading to more depth and joy and full living than we have ever experienced before. Maybe this is the next direction of the "blog"....to invite people to talk about where they wish the journey would go and God is inviting and leading them. OOOO, gives me goose bumps!
ReplyDeletePeace! Beth