Roles

Every organization has a box for individuals.  They boxes may be implied or expressed.  They may be formal or simply emerging from our actions.  They may be acknowledged or simply assumed.  Especially with time, we know where we sit and why.  We understand what we can do and where our actions will cause a reaction.  We know, and often we simply accept.
I find this way of living, even as I often fall into it, stifling.  With the periodic reflection, I also see how easy it is to lose sight of one's calling, purpose, and mission.  It is almost too easy to fit in!  Rewards often come without thinking, planning, or commitment.  The path to success appears bright and full of hope.  Everything seems to fall into place.  But, is this really what life is all about?
One analyst of a given situation observed that “this is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: 'in the Last Days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.”  (Acts 2.18-)  In this case, as is often true in ours, individuals were called to something greater than what they could see or imagine.  There was an opportunity begging for her and his engagement.  There was a window, open for those willing to accept a call of God.  There was and there is.
We live in a world where more things are possible than at anytime in history.  We can move, challenge, and take on opportunities in a myriad of ways!  We can seize opportunities without the legacy of tradition forever haunting us.  We can walk into doors as equals.  We are free of the bonds our grandparents struggled to unwillingly wear.
Today is a wonderful opportunity to step into the future.  The Spirit is here to guide, but we make the choice.  God is with us, even in our freedom.  Each has a role to play.  It is our opportunity and responsibility to seize the moment.