When Your Calling Calls... Don't Hang Up!

With Sandy Hogan
By Laurel Elders
(Excerpt from the Following Your Calling E-Book)
 
As my friend and mentor Sandy puts it, "Develop your hearing-aids".  Below, I've captured Sandy's advice and further reflections for our Answering Your True Calling blog. 

Sandy's advice on Answering Your True Calling: 

"Listening to the small callings is an invitation for hearing the bigger calling. Listening to the small along the way, in day to day life, prepares the path and grows our faith so that by the time the bigger calling shows up we are ready."

"Not all callings are paid. You may feel called to clean up the neighborhood you live in, or start a community garden." You may feel called to pay for the elderly woman's groceries in front of you. Not every calling, is a calling for fame and fortune. The most unfortunate missed callings are the ones that show up daily and are the simplest to fulfill. 

"What is at stake by not listening? What is the worst thing that could happen?" What if you took a risk to find out? What if it became an adventure or you became a detective following the clues of your life more closely to see where they lead you? Sandy asks us to reflect further, "How much does your personal comfort prevent you from answering?"

"What if I feel called, but fear it is the wrong number?" Sandy notes this as a common fear and then adds, "First, there is no wrong number. What seems like a dead-end or an off-putting idea, or conflicting ideas ruminating... are all indicative of the true calling that will emerge when it is ready." Again, listening to the promptings you feel now, paves the path for your future. 

"To access your calling consider who in life do you admire?  Then look at what qualities they embody. You may feel impressed by Maya Angelo, so look at the qualities she embodies. Strive to embody the qualities of Maya Angelo versus trying to measure your life against Maya Angelo. These qualities reflect your calling. Be careful to not be called into a persona. A true calling is authentic to you."

​​​​​​​I believe we are all called to something greater. When we don't listen, we feel it. It becomes the empty feeling in the heart. Then we attempt to cover that empty feeling up with ice-cream, TV, other people's ideals, texting, etc. etc.
The question to look at is, "To what is calling me?"  To explore this, I invite you to keep a "Calling Journal" for one month.

• Note what called you. Did you follow? Did you not? 
• If yes, what happened? 
• If not, what got in the way? 
• No judgment, just notice. 
• Reflect on whom you admire. What qualities do they embody? What does this reflect back to you? 
• What have you felt called to do in the past? Did you answer? How did it go? How did this experience shape you now, positively or negatively? 

 

---