Ministry Quest

     What is your calling?  Where do you see yourself going in life?  What's next?
     If you're about to graduate from high school, these are probably questions that you are wrestling with.  These are the questions that I took with me as I embarked on CMU's Ministry Quest program this weekend.  Ministry Quest is a two day retreat which explores the vocational call of ministry.  It was a group of about twenty people, and the weekend included many sessions with pastors and professors exploring the idea of calling.  Present also was Dan Unrau, our pastor in residence from last year, and someone whom I really respect.  
     He shared his story of call.  It's interesting because his story is one of deliberate calling as he was asked again and again to join the church where he is now a pastor.  Dan's philosophy puts a lot of weight on the praying people in his community to discern where he should be going.  Dan also pays attention to when he feels restless in a place, asking himself whether this feeling is a bad attitude or God's call.  
    Another presenter, John, talked about three important puzzle pieces in discerning calling.  Firstly, look at your outside influences.  What are people saying about you?  Is the community you are a part of pushing you towards something?  This might tell you something about what you are good at, and where you would fit well.
     Secondly, look inside yourself.  Trust your intuition.  Our bodies don't lie, and whether you can't sleep at night or are feeling calm and focused, you should be paying attention to what your body is telling you.  Your natural areas of passion are probably very closely related to your vocation.  
     Thirdly, pay attention to areas where you have experienced loss.  These parts of your life are tremendously helpful because they can teach you a great deal.  Loss is an opportunity for growth, and this growth can help determine calling.
     I'm finding all of this talk about vocation exciting.  The most important thing I realized this weekend was that vocation can be a long journey.  The stories I heard from current pastors emphasized the unexpected bumps along the way and the uncertainly that often accompanies the journey, especially the beginning and at key points of change.  This common experience of uncertainty is, I think, one of the most important lessons of Ministry Quest.