Sometimes we are called to serve – whether for a moment, a season or a lifetime. We are called to make sacrifices for a greater good; to courageously face challenges head on; to relentlessly pursue the course of right action, even when it may be unwelcome.
We do not heed these callings for our own gain, though there may be moments in which we feel richly rewarded for the work we are called to do. We do not heed these callings for others’ approval, for just as there may be those who love and support us, there are just as many or more who may not only misunderstand, but may actively seek to sabotage us or others in the process.
Callings and convictions are about leaving the comfort and familiarity of the known for the unknown.
Callings and convictions are about leading and living and serving from within, not without.
They are about living from the heart and doing what’s right.
On purpose.
With passion.
With love.
I’m curious…what callings and convictions have you followed on your own life path? What were the lessons learned? What costs, if any, have you encountered for living the courage of your convictions? How have you grown as a result of honoring your own journey?
Postscript: For those who, like me, believe that our lives and journeys and purpose are about something larger than our individual selves, I would add the following: sometimes callings are not so much about our own plans, but about God’s plan for us. While the convictions of our heart sometimes call us to follow a certain path, the purpose of our choice is not always clear, and it is often only in post-mortem analysis that we can begin to see the the real purpose(s) behind a given calling or path.
Sharon E. Reed [Blog] 
After my Ad/PR company celebrated 30 yrs in business, we decided to create an organization for seniors. Now with 655 members, we have found that CCRP (Caribbean Community of Retired Persons) requires far more resources than we had projected. However, with our ever growing senior population we remain committed to their empowerment.
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No opportunity is without challenges, and no challenge is without opportunity. Congratulations on your commitment to serve and empower others through your seniors organization. What a great way to give back to your community!
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I think the we, as Americans, in general, do not sense the calling to support our parents financially as they grow older, after all they have done for us. Many people in other countries sense that it is the right thing to do.
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There’s the outer calling, which may come from a given society’s norms and values, and then there’s the inner calling or conviction – the one that resonates deep within, reflecting our core values or spiritual journey. The outer calling I tend to think of more as a duty, than a calling. Curious to hear your thoughts on that.
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For me calling and conviction often go hand in hand. I may not always be 100% certain about why I am on a particular path, or why there appears to be a delay on my path, but my path has always been something I can crawl, walk, and run down. Often times I find that when I look back, that path was of greater impact than anything I could have imagined. For me the key is remembering how faithful God has always been, and not to worry (though hard) about perceptions, the public, or what the path appears to look like right in front of me.
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I agree with your perspective whole-heartedly! Trusting our callings is indeed a matter of faith – rooted in the heart and/or spiritual dimension rather than in the opinions or perceptions of others. As you correctly point out, the challenge is in holding steady to our faith and centered with ourselves when the waters get rough, for it is often the trials along the way that strengthen us and give clarity and value to the larger journey.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your heartfelt thoughts.
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