When You Have a Dropped Call

Serving in a church that is led by God's call can be confusing. It's difficult enough to discern whether God is calling you to a particular ministry. But how can you tell when the call has dropped?

You've been on the phone, talking with a friend, and just kept going. And going. Suddenly you realize there's a silence which grows longer. Then you know the call was dropped. You don't know how long you were talking into the silence, with no one on the other end of the line. You feel a little foolish.

It's awkward when ministry is like this. Sometimes you keep working long after the connection with God has been broken. And who knows how long it's been? It may have been habit. You may have become so absorbed on your end of things that you didn't realize the conversation was no longer two-way.

What's the solution? Well, after feeling some moments of embarrassment, and, let's face it, a little anger (we're all human after all) you hang up and wait for another call.

What happens next is really important.

You can wait for God to call you into a new ministry. In the words of the Taizé song, "Wait for the Lord whose day is near. Wait for the Lord. Keep watch. Take heart." Farmers especially understand the importance of the fallow field. It takes the land time to recover before something new can grow. Waiting is prayerful time, listening time, discerning time.

But it's equally important to know when to pick up the line and call out to God. Because, as important as listening is in prayer (waiting, too), God's call is not just a one-way dictation. There is an outgoing signal available.

"Tell me: What to do, What comes next, How long, O Lord, how long?" Scripture is full of people just like us calling out to God asking what to do, where to go, what to say, who to meet.

And sometimes the answer will not be very clear. You may have to work your way into hearing God's call. Try out a new ministry. See if it fits. Does the shovel feel right in your hand? Are you well-suited for the job? Perhaps some schooling is required. Or shaking a few trees. Or finding the right people to help.

A dropped call on the phone can be frustrating. But a dropped call to ministry can set you free. You are now free to listen, to experiment, to explore. It can be a hard thing to explain. But if the dropped call happens in a community that truly understands, then you're likely to experience some measure of grace.

I suppose that's my main prayer for you, if you've experienced a dropped call to ministry: a community well-practiced in creating safe, grace-filled space for reconnecting with God. It's also my prayer for the church: That love and grace abound and we listen for God's call together.

Blessings and peace.