Vocation—Who, Me? by Freda A. Gardner

"If anyone called, I didn’t hear it.”

Many of us have said things like that or had them said to us. Maybe it’s because we’re uncomfortable or feel inadequate or don’t like to accept something we’re not sure about; but whatever the reason, many of us shrink from having words like vocation and gifts applied to us.

When we shrink from the words and what they imply, we rob ourselves of some of the greatest gifts from God. This is because, if we are to believe scripture and the interpretations of many theologians, before God ever summons us to faithfulness and the joy of living as Christ ’s disciples, God gives to each of us what we need to embrace the implications of that call.

Who you are makes no difference. Are you a parent? A neighbor? A pastor? A church-school teacher, Scout leader, neighbor, doctor, member of the school board, a preparer of meals at a homeless shelter, a taxpayer, a volunteer on the rescue squad, at the blood bank or in the library?

Were you baptized? Our baptism is the first public sign that we are children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. If we are baptized as infants and we confirm those vows taken on our behalf when we are teenagers or adults, we know ourselves to be members of Christ’s body. And what has happened is that in those acts we have accepted Christ’s ministry as our own.

Really? Wow! Gulp. . . .

Read the full text of this article to learn more about the ways that your gifts are God's way of calling you—yes you!

Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the March/April 2008 issue (HZN-08-210; $4 plus shipping).

Freda Gardner is an elder member of First Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York; a retired professor of Christian education at Princeton Theological Seminary; and moderator of the 211th PC(USA) General Assembly.

Photo courtesy of Smari/Getty Images

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Read the full text of this article to learn more about the ways that your gifts are God's way of calling you—yes you! Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the March/April 2008 issue (HZN-08-210; $4 plus shipping).	Vocation—Who, Me? by Freda A. Gardner "If anyone called, I didn’t hear it.” Many of us have said things like that or had them said to us. Maybe it’s because we’re uncomfortable or feel inadequate or don’t like to accept something we’re not sure about; but whatever the reason, many of us shrink from having words like vocation and gifts applied to us. When we shrink from the words and what they imply, we rob ourselves of some of the greatest gifts from God. This is because, if we are to believe scripture and the interpretations of many theologians, before God ever summons us to faithfulness and the joy of living as Christ ’s disciples, God gives to each of us what we need to embrace the implications of that call. Who you are makes no difference. Are you a parent? A neighbor? A pastor? A church-school teacher, Scout leader, neighbor, doctor, member of the school board, a preparer of meals at a homeless shelter, a taxpayer, a volunteer on the rescue squad, at the blood bank or in the library? Were you baptized? Our baptism is the first public sign that we are children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. If we are baptized as infants and we confirm those vows taken on our behalf when we are teenagers or adults, we know ourselves to be members of Christ’s body. And what has happened is that in those acts we have accepted Christ’s ministry as our own. Really? Wow! Gulp. . . . Read the full text of this article to learn more about the ways that your gifts are God's way of calling you—yes you! Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the March/April 2008 issue (HZN-08-210; $4 plus shipping). Freda Gardner is an elder member of First Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York; a retired professor of Christian education at Princeton Theological Seminary; and moderator of the 211th PC(USA) General Assembly. Photo courtesy of Smari/Getty Images Other Articles Online This Issue Vocation—Who, Me? PLSE: A New Program Helps Young Presbyterians Catch the Beat of Christian Service The Call Toward Joy God Called, I Answered! Am I a Leader? God Has Done Great Things for Me! It Hurts to Be Real "God Has a Task for Me to Finish!" Toward a More Colorful Vision of Vocation Installation Service for Presbyterian Women Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Nurturing Our Faith Health Connections Mosaic	Current Issue MAR/APR 2008 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the March/April 2008 (HZN-08-210) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call (800) 524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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