That Thing That Calls
What is it that causes a child who sees an Olympic event to say, “that’s what I want to do,” and proceeds to push their body to it’s physical limits relentlessly over years?
What is it that happens when young eyes watch a play or performance that makes them think, “that’s for me” and then they set off pursuing roles enduring infinite rejections?
What is it about political office that steers a citizen to withstand ridiculous public opinion and personal slander?
The Real Call May Be Simple
We may feel discouraged and believe that we are missing something when we compare our pursuits to these, very few, larger than life, achievements. The fact is, we all have that inner ‘something’ that is calling us, pulling us and asking us to pursue. It just may be that we can’t hear it or don’t recognize it. Because of mythical stories and glorified hero worship, we believe we need to hear the voice of God, experience an angelic visitation or receive a Divine Vision to deem our calling worthy to pursue. So, we wait. Often times the real call is simple, subtle, and maybe even right in front of our eyes. It is not a whole big picture, all mapped out, grand plan of action. It is a just do-the-next-thing kind of inkling. It is not until later, looking back that we see how all the little steps, and seemingly insignificant moments all added up to putting us exactly where we needed to be with the people we needed to be with doing what we’re to be doing.
I couldn’t know that all of my childhood experiences, the education I pursued, the places I was drawn to move to, the jobs I chose to apply for would all lead me to what I’m doing now. I would not be equipped to do what I do without all of that before now. What I do now didn’t exist that long ago.
It’s the Pursuing
The athlete, the performer, the politician also could not fulfill their job requirements without all of the training, step by step decisions and people it took to get them to that world stage. The ones that don’t reach that ‘big’ stage still become who they are because of pursuing the call. It is the pursuit that makes us. It is the pursuit that leads us to the places and people we are meant to know so that we can become who we are to become.
So, how do you hear, see or feel that call? It is a desire. It might not even be definable in words yet. it is a feeling. It causes a drawing sensation. It feels like a physical, romantic attraction. It is something that is deeply interesting to you (and maybe only you) causing you to want to know more about it, causing you to want to spend all your time with it, causing you to feel more like yourself when you’re with it. It might be that you’ve dismissed it because it’s not practical, or acceptable in your social circle or your family.
I hate to break it to you, ‘it’ didn’t go away. It’s still there. You may well be following it and don't know it! I invite you to find that desire. Sit with it. Ask it questions. What’s one (more) step you can take toward it? If it feels a little scary, you're probably on to it.
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