Follow Your Calling

Luke 6:46-49

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like.

He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

We all know what it’s like to feel that things are falling apart around us. Sometimes, the oatmeal boils over on the stove, while we’re trying to check our email, as the cat spits up a hairball, and the telephone begins to ring. All we’re trying to do is get out the door on time. And we all know that sometimes, we deal with much more than this.

Christ explains that we may feel as though the house is shaking when we don’t follow what is asked of us. God isn’t going to let the house fall. But we feel unsteady when we lose touch with what we are called to do here.

The rules for the game of life are simple. We can know what is asked of us by studying the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes. They’re simple. Make sure you don’t harm anyone. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. Be humble. Share. Remember that you have come from dust and to dust you shall return, and remember, that you have come from love, and to that love you shall return. The challenge then becomes expressing that love through our fascinatingly complex daily lives. This is why we really need to listen.

Christ says, first hear my father’s words. Then follow.

Of course, we want to do the right thing. We want to follow our calling. The problem is, sometimes we’re too busy to listen to that inner calling. We get distracted by the calling of the television, the calling of friends and family, the calling of unpaid bills, or the person who calls on the telephone to offer low-rate auto insurance when we don’t even own a car.

Sometimes, we forget to listen to the voice of the heart.

We can listen together. We can listen to each other.

We can also listen to God’s calling from within the heart. The voice crying out in the wilderness, so to speak. That simple voice that asks for our attention amongst the loud callings of work concerns, family joys, the roof on the house in need of mending. These are all valid callings. The point is not to ignore them, but to remember also to slot God into our busy schedule.

Our relationship with God is like any relationship. Just as with our family and friends, if we are laying the foundation for a strong bond, we need to spend time together. And not just any old time. Any old time may do on a daily basis. But we also need to make sure that we spend quality time together. This quality time is like digging deep to lay the rock for the foundation. Then, when the flood comes, the house is unshakeable.

This quality time may be taking a walk somewhere out in the woods, or at least in Central Park. It might be sitting in meditation or spending time in contemplation or prayer. The point is to let our lives be simple, simple enough that we can connect, and to connect regularly.

Have you ever been on a road trip to somewhere you’ve never been before? If you’re lucky, you’ve got someone in the front seat beside you to read the map and offer guidance. But what happens if you take the first direction and then toss the map? Sure, you’ve taken the first turn in the right direction, but if you keep going without further guidance, you might wind up veering far out in the wrong direction.

So it is with God. We can check in once in a while. We can remember to watch and pray when we sing hymns whose words remind us to do these things on Sundays. Absolutely. But we can also live those words on a daily basis. We can find the space to reasses our intentions, to feel the pull of the heart’s compass. To come into union.

When we have consistent quality time with God, well, we may still wind up veering off somewhere we hadn’t meant to go, but at least we’ll be able to figure out where we are and what we need to do next.

Christ says, my yoke is light. Christ says, I am easy to follow. Let your life be simple. You don’t need all that you think you need. He says to the disciples, you don’t even need to bring more than one set of clothes to follow me, to follow the words of my Father, to follow your calling. Listen, and then follow. Then, when the flood comes, your house will stand strong on the bedrock foundation of faith and love.

 Offered by Swamini Sri Lalitambika Devi at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew for Lenten Vespers on Wednesday, March 11, 2009