The Danger in calling

"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Character of Gandalf in response to Frodo's desire not to carry the ring of power
Lord of the Rings, Part I

Ok, I admit it.  I am a Lord of the Rings junkie.  I can watch Lord of the Rings over and over again, and I still find quotes and allegories that inspire me.  As I was watching the Lord of Rings, Fellowship of the Ring, which is the first part of the trilogy, I was reminded of the quote given by the wise Gandalf to the young Frodo above.

For those unfamiliar with the story, there is a ring that is incredibly powerful and incredibly evil.  The ring literally transforms the person who owns it into evil.  Many powerful people and nations seek it.  The ring falls to a young, small man (Frodo) who seems to be unaffected, at least initially, by the rings effect due to his innocence.  HIs job, is to carry the ring to the place in which it was created, so it can be destroyed, knowing that there are strong and evil forces seeking to destroy him. He is accompanied by 8 others who vow to protect Frodo, while struggling with their own understandings of the ring and their destinies.

Frodo represents you.  Often, we are given a calling and mission that we did not ask for.  For that mission, you may perceive that you are least qualified for that mission, but for unclear reasons, God chose you.  It is not for us to decided our callings, but simply to focus on how to respond to the callings we have.

School teachers called to teach children with very few resources.  A  young single mother who is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of an infant.  The parents of a child with special needs, who abandon all vocational ambitions, to care for their child.  Pastors called to lead small congregations in places where few seek to minister.  All of these are examples of missions that call us to tasks that are beyond our personal strength.

I want to encourage you today in your calling by pointing out a few principles based upon Scripture and illuminated by the Christian themes written into Lord of the rings.

1. Calling is carried out in community: Jesus calls his disicples to minister in community (Luke 10).  In Lord of the Rings, Frodo must carry the ring, but there others to assist him.  Who is helping you carry your ring today?

2. Calling is not what you "Like" to do, but what you "have" to do.  Jesus does not "like" the cross, but knows that he is destined to die for the sins of the entire world.  We often do enjoy our calling, but we must not confuse enjoyment and calling.

3. Calling is the grand adventure.  True, God calling is wrought with twists and turns and uncertainty.  We see it beginning with Abraham who is called out of his home and sent to an undetermined placed (Genesis 12).  Yet, each and everyone of us has a journey and while there may be a distinct destination, the joy of life is found in the journey and the character of life is forged there. 

Do you sense that you have a ring to bear.  A mission, or calling that although you fear it, is undeniable.

I pray today that you will take time to decide what to do with the "times" given you.

God bless,

Pastor M Traylor

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beneath the anger

Image
  Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had known every act the LORD had done for Israel . (Jos 24:31 CEB) "Mediating narratives of supremacy that originate in diseased theological and social imagination--and ultimately unresolved trauma--must be replaced by alternative, healthy theological imagination that contributes to human flourishing." -- Charles Kiser and Elaine Health in Trauma-informed Evangelism This past week, I have enjoyed watching the Olympic games in Paris.  There is something about competition, involving the world's best athletes that is awe inspiriting.  What I have been fascinated by is the massive social media reactions of self-professed Christians to an opening ceremony float, and an Algerian female boxer.  Both situations are very small portions of the Olympic games, but the attention to each situation, and the intensity of emotions behind posts and my favorite, social media argumen...
Read more

Misplaced Hope

Image
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13 NLT) "In our questions about politics and the gospel, we must be willing to ask how evangelical politics might change if we replace fear with hope, the pursuit of power with the cultivation of humility, and nostalgia with history."--Mae Elise Canon in Beyond Hashtag Activism I am writing this on November 6th, the day after election day in 2024.  I have been preparing for this day by spending more time in prayer and meditation, anticipating that regardless of the winner of the presidential election, that many leaders and members of the churches that I have the privilege of serving, will experience significant discouragement, disappointment, and disillusionment.  A number of friends have contacted me, checking in and sharing concerns about my welfare and the welfare of many of my fr...
Read more

When "Agree to disagree" is Dangerous

Image
  And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life. ”  Mt 25:45–46 NLT In controversial topics, we are taught that in order to be civil in the communities in which we participate, that it is polite and respectful to "agree to disagree".  This is often used to de-escalate a disagreement that has emotion attached.  Devoted Coca-Cola drinkers will rarely agree that Pepsi products have more flavor, and so thanksgiving gatherings will often agree to disagree when a guest breaches generations of etiquette by bringing a two-liter bottle of Pepsi to a Coke family gathering. The point is that when the topic is trivial and no one has the potential of being harmed, it is appropriate to go the "lets agree to disagree" route. However, what if someone at the same thanksgiving meal made a statement...
Read more