In class today, Dr. Tom asked us what gives us the right to
be ministers? What gives us the right to
counsel? What gives us the right to give spiritual guidance? Sometimes I ask the same question of myself as
a mom. What give me the right to bring
two children in the world, to guide them, to give them spiritual counsel? My
impact on them can be passed on from generation to generation.
So I ask, again, what DOES give me the right?
It seems that each
one of us has something we are innately drawn to. Perhaps we are drawn to be an artist, an
engineer, a doctor, a singers or a great chef. From the time my youngest son started
crawling, he never wanted to play with his toys; he was more interested in taking
them apart to see how they worked. This
need to see how things worked seemed compellingly innate. It was as if there was something drawing him
to do it. (As an adult he hasn’t changed. He still loves working with cars and
ripping them apart).
When I look at my son and see his passion, I know he is
doing what he is supposed to be doing- he is simply doing what he is drawn to
do. I guess that’s why I feel I have a right to be a minister, a mom, a wife
and a friend. I can’t always explain it,
but I’m doing what I feel I am innately compelled to do.
Beth - perhaps like the Prophets we experience an inner calling or a fire in our bellies or as with me, find my self on a path to ministry that it seems like I've been on all my life. Everything I have ever done has brought me to this place. And it is now that I finally recognize and honor this calling. I appreciate your perspective. What gives me the right to any of the things I have done? Perhaps the answer for me is what I learned in Unity that I am God in expression.
ReplyDeleteDitto for me, Judi and Beth, I find that while my ego wants to say, "who, ME?" there's a part of me, the bigger more expansive God part, that seeks expression through me in this way. In ministry we seem to place a lot of emphasis on "the call" but when one considers the commitment one makes to become a doctor or a rocket scientist, the willingness to go through what it takes would have to be a calling for them also. I believe my right to be a minister is the based in my willingness to do what it takes to learn the art and science of the profession and then apply it in service. In essence we heed the call (the voice of the divine seeking to express) and the right is earned.
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