Enough is enough!! It is time to put everything else in my life aside and listen to what God is trying to tell me. I have been stubborn for too long, telling God "not now, maybe later". But if I keep telling God that, later will never arrive. So begins my journey of discerning a call to Holy Orders, or simply a call to the Priesthood in the Episcopal Church.
My journey began as I was finishing up my last year in College and preparing to graduate. I had it all planned out, I had a job lined up, with plans to work a couple of years, then get an MBA to enhance my resume and climb up the business ladder. There was just one thing; I began to feel a call. God was speaking to me, and I reluctantly listened. I spoke with my local priest at the time, and after a couple of conversations I decided I will not follow the call. I had what I thought were good reasons: a job, the uncertainty in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth which is where we were moving, and a new family I was starting. To be honest I did not have the time or the desire to listen to what God was trying to say. So I did not follow the call, but that did not stop God from talking.
A year later, my first son was born, we were members of St. Peter and Paul and they were still in the Episcopal Church. God began speaking again, but I again had an excuse. "I was just promoted in my company, I am traveling too much, I love this new job, I just can't right now, maybe later." Then the Diocese split from the Episcopal Church. The church we were at decided to break off along with the majority of the Diocese I loved and in which I was raised in. We did not have a Church home any more, our hearts were broken. No going through with the call now, I had the perfect excuse. Cue Lee Corso, "NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND". God still had plans for me yet.
A few months after the split I heard about a congregation in Arlington that stayed with the Episcopal Church. Needless to say I was excited. I looked on line and found St. Albans, I was led to their website and decided to visit. I remember the warmth and acceptance the moment we stepped foot in the Theater. We were greeted by what seemed like everyone there, and we enjoyed fellowship following the service. When we left my wife and I decided we had found our Church home.
Shortly after my second son was born God began speaking to me again. Again I had excuses, my son was just born, I don't know what is going to happen with this diocese, I am just too busy. 9 months later in January of 2011, The Presiding Bishop was in Fort Worth and was speaking. During a powerful message, and meditation time God spoke to me again. On our way home I told my wife that God was talking to me again. She looked at me and told me "enough, you need to go and talk to someone about this". I thought about it and prayed about it and decided that it was time to finally listen to God. I talked to my Priest about what had been going on, and agreed to start the process of discernment.
I am now called an Aspirant, and we have started the process of putting together a Parish Discernment Group. Through this I have learned that you cannot put God off. If God wants something of you, or talks to you, he will keep getting your attention. No matter how many excuses you give, God will keep coming back to you and telling you what he wants of you. No matter what else you have going on in your life, God has other plans. We just need to sit back and listen to what God has to say, and act on what he is saying. As I told myself when I decided to finally listen to God and act on the call, if we keep saying later, later will never get here.
So begins a new and exciting chapter in my life. I can't wait to see where God leads me. It could be to the priesthood, or it could lead me somewhere else. Where ever it leads I know God has his plans for me, and whatever that plan is there is a reason for it.
So sit back and listen to what God is telling you. He has a plan for all of us.
God bless!
HI!
ReplyDelete