A reflection written by the Rev. Christine Chakoian, a friend and fellow Presbyterian minister ended with this:
“But over time, work took over again. Don’t get me wrong – I love my work. But it had become everything: tending parishioners, walking the nave, reading theology, writing sermons. I forgot my calling to be me…” (Presbyterian Outlook – August 5, 2013)
I don’t know about you…
Sometimes I barely know about me,
But how many of us, I wonder, find ourselves in that exact same place defining ourselves or being defined by that which we do…
Banker
Pastor
Business owner
Parent
Partner
Care giver
Rather than who we sense we truly are when all the other layers are stripped away?
We have forgotten our calling to be me.
Maybe it is a factor of my getting older, but I am searching for that me which sometimes pushes itself a bit closer to the surface of my life and which, other times, disappears hidden beneath my own list of expectations I have for myself and, sometimes, the expectations of others. Here is what I realized as I read and thought about Christine’s reflection. For many years I have worked hard at my calling to be a pastor to honor that commitment and to do the best job I could. If I am going to honor my calling to be me, I need to give that task the same time and attention and thoughtfulness I have given the job I am privileged to do. And, if that is the case, I am left with this question. Am I up to the task?