i get by with a little help from my friends

Yesterday, at Orientation, we looked at different stories of "call" during our morning Bible study. We were to pick a story that interested us and answer some questions pertaining to it. I chose the story of the calling of the disciples as told in Luke 5. It's a wonderful story. Christ tells Simon Peter to cast out the nets, nevermind the fact that they haven't caught anything all day, and the haul is nothing but enormous. Christ then tells the discples that if they give up their possessions and follow Him that He will make them fishers of men. Needless to say, the discples do just that.

One of the questions that was given to me on the passage simply asked me to write down words and phrases that stuck out. I hadn't thought of breaking down a passage in this way before and it proved to be an incredibly useful tool. I wrote down "because you say so, I will," "called their partners for help," "don't be afraid" and "left everything and followed." I think these phrases work well together to tell the story of what a calling from God often turns out to look like. First, we choose to take the course of action that we do because we perceive that God has told us to do so. Second, we go forward in confidence knowing that God will help us and does not want us to be afraid. Lastly, we often give up comforts, peace of mind, even relationships to walk the path He has layed before us.

I've addressed three of the phrases I wrote down about the passage but purposely left out "called their partners for help." For a long time I thought that a calling from God was an individual thing. He would lay it on my heart to do something and I would go do it. It was my responsibility. I realized yesterday that this is not the case. The disciples are told by God to throw their nets into the sea, but they are not able to bring them back in by themselves. They have to call for help. The job that God gave them is much greater than what they can handle alone. Through this passage and the preparation for this YAV year, I have realized that even though God has called me to serve in Northern Ireland, I cannot do this alone. And the evidence of this is overwhelming. When Kendra and I needed to raise $16000, friends and family came forth and helped us take care of that. When I've needed pick-me-ups because I've begun to understand what I am leaving behind, a kind email arrives in my inbox encouraging me to go forth and live out what God has planned. Your support has been enormous and I thank you for the help you are giving me in my calling. Blessings and peace!