Calling

I find myself on the cusp of a significant turn in my life.  The girls are both graduating, taking big steps forward in their lives.  Everything seems to be in a state of flux, but that is not the turn.  The chaos in my life is not driving new perspectives of the opportunities that will come or the reality of the life that is.  Rather it is my awareness of God’s calling.  I find myself bathing in an overwhelming sense of reality, humbling and humiliating in a way that embraces hope.  It is strange a new, different, and at times unusual sense of calling and belonging.
 
It shows up at every event. 
 
A small coffee roaster on Orchard is interested in my life and experiences because I am interested in his.  There is no sales pitch.  I have a candid conversation about likes, dislikes, known, and unknown in his store.  We walk together, metaphorically lifting each other up into the fullness of life.  I am already looking forward to the next opportunity to be in his company.
 
This is what God calls us to do.
 
An Algerian passionate about Italian pizza says thank-you for sitting in for dinner.  I do not recall talking to anyone more than extending polite courtesies.  Yet in his eyes is something more.  I find hope in those eyes.  I find, sitting amid the angst that haunts your life, his, and mine, a sincere engaged compassion.  I leave filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
 
I am not sure what I thought I needed as I walked to the apartment from the D train.  I do know that I met two of God’s children.  They spoke and I walked away carrying hope.  They engaged and I found myself renewed.  They blessed and I am different because of it.  Even as I reached for the door, I heard the Spirit’s voice; “Come everybody, gather around, listen: Who among the gods has delivered the news?  I, God, love this man Cyrus, and I'm using him to do what I want with Babylon.”  (Isaiah 48.14)