The Call and Confirmation
My dad was in Columbia for a meeting. He came to the State House where I was working as a page to take me out to lunch. It was an unplanned, spur of the moment treat. As we rode down the elevator together, with no lead into my announcement, I blurted out, “Dad, I’m not going to law school. I’m going to seminary!” His reaction was so typical when I think about it. He grinned at me and calmly replied, “I’m not surprised. I always knew that’s what you were supposed to do.” Honestly, I was expecting more of a shocked reaction than that.
The reason I had expected a different response from Dad was the fact that all I had talked about throughout my undergraduate years at Carolina was going to law school and then practicing law with him. It wasn’t a far-fetched or unreasonable plan. It just wasn’t God’s plan. And I think Dad sensed this. But to his credit, he never nudged me or pushed me one way or another. He never pressured me in the least or presumed to know God’s will for my life. I’m certain that he prayed for me and trusted the Lord to guide me. And, in a way, I think he trusted me to listen to the Voice that calls and to answer that call.
Dad’s response to my awkward announcement in the elevator served a very important function in my call to the Gospel ministry. It was a confirmation. Others followed: family members, close friends, and my pastor. When I publicly surrendered to the Gospel Ministry at my home church, I heard one confirming comment after another. No one expressed surprise. Everyone seemed to know before I made it known! Their affirmation of my surrender to full time ministry was confirmation of my call.
What I have learned through the years is that my story isn’t unique regarding the way God uses others to confirm the call. Just recently I led a discussion in both small groups of pastors I work with concerning God’s call to the Gospel ministry. Each man’s story was a unique, powerful testimony to the very personal nature of God’s calling. But there was one common element in each of their stories: God put other people in their lives who gave them confirmation of their call.
It’s the same with spiritual gifts. Other people recognize God’s special gifting for ministry in us before we do. Other times believers might sense that they have one or more of the grace gifts but hesitates to use them, lacking confidence. Invariably, one or more members of the Body of Christ will speak words of affirmation, which confirms the gifting and bolsters our confidence in the work God is calling us to do.
Grief and the Healing of Hope
In the past two months, our family has suffered the loss of two loved ones. On Sunday, March 3rd, Elliott’s mother passed away at the age of 93. We celebrated her life and her homegoing with sadness and joy. She was respected, admired, and loved by her family, her church family, her many friends, and the community at large. The outpouring of sympathy to the family was heartfelt and gave great comfort to all the family and encouraged our faith and renewed our hope in the Lord.
Nevertheless, even the good grief we have as those whose hope is in the Living Christ, grief lingers long. This is because grief is the pain of loss, and the greater the love, the greater the loss is felt. This felt loss takes time to heal.
Then on Sunday, April 7, just a month after Mrs. Bishop died, Elliott’s brother, George, died suddenly in his home. Our family’s grief was compounded by his death – grief upon grief – intense pain piercing our hearts. Our minds were numbed by the unexpected. It was like a rogue wave on a calm sea that capsized our boat and turned our lives upside down. Again, the greater the love, the greater the grief.
The family rallied together again. Once again, family members flew home. Once again friends rallied to our side. And once again we gathered at Trinity Church in Pinopolis to honor and celebrate the life and homegoing of a loved one. As a well-known and beloved attorney, George had helped and advised many people of various backgrounds in his many years of practicing law. The public outpouring of deeply felt personal sadness and sincere support for our family was tremendously helpful and appreciated.
I am sharing this because grief is one of those universal human experiences. In a strange way it unites us. It’s one reason the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is such a profoundly powerful turning point in human history and our greatest hope. Death separates us from our loved ones, but the death and resurrection of Jesus is what gives life to our souls and a hope that will not disappoint us and a certainty of that day of resurrection and reunion that is to come. So, although grief is an inflicted wound for a time, hope is the ultimate healing for all time for those who belong to Jesus by grace through faith.