“If God calls you to be a missionary, don’t stoop to be a king.” –Jordan Groom
I’ve been thinking about this quote all day. I first read it in college and then heard it in a song (Switchfoot, maybe?) and it was one of those quotes that really got me thinking. Most anyone would agree with this. It’s noble, etc. etc. However, I wonder if the reverse is true? “If God calls you to be a king, don’t stoop to be a missionary”?
I grew up as a cpk* and I’ve always been involved in full-time vocational church ministry. When my husband and I got married, that’s what we did. When we interviewed, we told pastors, “You’re lucky, if we weren’t married, you’d be choosing between us.” I’ve always wanted to be in ministry. I don’t have any other skill set.
Now, 1 baby, 2 bad churches and 12 moves later, I’m wondering if God’s calling is static or dynamic? Does His calling change as your life changes? Should I say, “If God calls you to be a mom, don’t stoop to be a pastor?” Or is the opposite for me, “If God calls you to be a pastor, don’t stoop to be mom?” *gasp* You know what I mean. Being a mom will be my crowning achievement, my opus. But what if that’s not all God has for me?
I was kind of having this conversation with my mom the other day and with my husband about once a week. I look at all these people and can obviously see them living their “calling” and loving it. I see Kristen living her calling as a suburban missionary. (Didn’t we always tell you you’d be a missionary, Kristen?) I see Yancy being a singer songwriter like God planned for her to be. I see Lindsey being the mom that she’s always desired to be. I see famous people doing what they’re supposed to do: don’t tell me God didn’t plan for Elizabeth Hasselbeck to be on The View. And say whatever you want but the 2000 Presidential Election was a spiritual battle and God’s plan won. You know that Frank Peretti is doing what God called him to do. Mama‘s calling has strengthened and morphed and changed over the last few years but you can see that she’s doing what God has planned.
All this rambling brings me to this. I’m at a crossroads. We’re in a place in our life where we’re not “in ministry” and its weird. This is probably the first time I’ve even posted about church and ministry because I just haven’t wanted to think about it. But I know we’re in a season. We’re not in our “happily ever after”. I just want to know what I should be looking forward to. Did God call me to be a missionary or a king? I’m not sure.
*children’s pastor’s kid
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