Picture this.
An insurrection. A government crumbling from within. An inspired military general marching to gather support. And surprisingly, thousands join his ranks.
Why? Because he has answered a call to arms. He is an audacious leader. A friend of freedom. A lover of truth. A man of God.
When good people today hear a call to arms (on many fronts), there is a stirring in our hearts. Truth moves us to action.
And that’s good. Right?
Yes. But can we possibly answer every call? Should we? What about unique personalities? Individual talents? Different interests?
After giving a keynote address at a non-profit organization’s annual convention, I sat at a table with a handful of the group’s leaders and members. I listened with great interest to one of the women who had been recognized for her years of dedicated service in foster care. She shared her amazing story with us: that a tremendous need had been found, her heart hurt for the innocent, and she boldly answered the call.
What followed, though, was awkward. With her enthusiasm for the army of foster parents she marched with, her expectation for the rest of us to join the ranks felt more like an accusation than a call to arms.
I have thought of this many times over the years. I fully acknowledge that the need for good foster parents is profound. Each worthy individual who is moved to action in behalf of these children has earned my sincere respect and admiration. But I also know, with confidence, that God has not called me, personally, to this cause.
This noble woman was zealous about her call. As she should be. This is what made her a good soldier. But not every call is the same. I, personally, am passionate about enlisting others to share the messages of truth in their hearts. I see a real need for more life coaches, speakers and writers. But that doesn’t mean that it is necessarily your call as well.
Let’s go back to our original scenario. It actually came directly from my scripture study. The general was a beloved leader who had an incredible influence on the nation he swore to protect. But verses later there were a number of other men named and described as “just as serviceable unto the people.” But they were not soldiers . . . they were teachers, preachers, and messengers of truth.
Isn’t that fascinating?
Here are a few things that struck me:
We all have different calls.
Each call is a service to the people.
There’s no need for comparison; the world needs what each call provides.
We live in a world that cries out for all the gifts, talents, and passion of every person. I admire and celebrate those who feel called to the medical field to heal the sick; those in the building industry who provide shelter; the farmers who feed the hungry; gifted teachers who educate the ignorant; counselors who liberate the captive; our police forces who protect the innocent; artists who create beauty in homes, fashion, buildings, and more; and those who feel called to administrate to organize these many worthy pursuits.
Each cause matters. However, our individual calls to arms are not all the same. We will each hear and sound many of them over the course of a lifetime. But we cannot answer them all. We were never meant to.
So which of all the ranks should we join? How do we know?
First of all, you may not know right away. And that’s okay.
Some people attribute Buddha for saying this: “Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.”
It’s important to realize that this is a quest of a lifetime. During different seasons in our lives we’ll answer many calls. When we look back on them, we can identify a common thread running through each one that will give us some hints.
What call to arms sounds in your soul? When we are on the lookout for it and begin to suspect that we’ve found it, our personal clarion call will resonate so deeply inside of us that we may recognize its beginnings clear back in our childhood. Familiarity will adorn it because it has been our companion through every glimpse and clue along the way.
When you finally identify that missing piece in your life, you will have the sacred opportunity to enlist in that army, clothed with natural talents, divine understanding, and passion that, perhaps, you’ve never worn before.
There is something inside of each of us . . . something that calls us to make a difference in the world. It comes from deep within, because it’s a reflection of who we really are. It could be visiting a lonely neighbor. Participating in a local food drive, or making beautiful note cards and sending them to brighten someone’s day. There are as many calls as there are people.
Big or small, artistic or practical, educational or constructing, nurturing or administrative . . . your call is your purpose. It’s unique to you. And I promise you . . . it matters.
For some powerful support in fulfilling your call, let’s see what we can do together.