With graduation exercises concluded comes the question of “what do I do now?”

The list of occupations can be long with many suggestions or hopes or dreams but very rarely have I ever seen the suggestion to consider ministry …for being a pastor, priest, rabbi, or religious leader of any faith community, or even that call as lay persons to work within their own faith community. I would also suggest that God’s call can come at any age and can be filled with uncertainty, resistance, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

From Moses in Midian to Paul on the Damascus road, the call is not always clear or convenient. I note that it is ‘not a conference call’!! It can come to each of us even when we are feeling unprepared or overwhelmed. It does not come with step-by-step instructions! Yet, those who were called, Moses, Jacob, Paul, and Mary, responded with reluctance, not readiness. Answering the call doesn’t begin with a full understanding, … only a faithful ‘yes’. Mary may have stated it best by answering, “Let it be according to your will.”

I recall that as a young high school graduate, my pastor said, “Bill, I think you should consider going into the ministry.” My answer, “That would be the last thing that I would do!” I, of course, did not mean it as it turned out. It became the last thing; however, it was also a reluctant history.

During my college days, I worked as a men’s clothing salesperson and was offered a career opportunity. My summer job was also in sales, but it was new homes for a home building firm and was offered a position with substantial salary.

Following college graduation, I was offered the opportunity to play baseball with the Class D Wisconsin League, Yankee organization. I rejected this, but I indicated that I would at least like to try one year of seminary for the first two. The reluctant question was always there!. As evident, I always ended back at seminary.

So the call does not come with step-by-step instructions. The call is always intimate, unique, and maybe not even fully understood by those around us. It begins, however, with a faithful “yes”.

So, whether you are a young man or woman, or a person of faith at any age, may you be open to the ‘call’ and fully consider serving God within the faith community of your choice. May it be in your life, the last thing you would do!