Good morning…
“I must listen to my life and try to understand what it is truly about – quite apart from what I would like it to be about – or my life will never represent anything real in the world, no matter how earnest my intentions,” writes Parker Palmer, author of the book we will be digesting and discussing in my living room this semester.
Parker continues: “That insight is hidden in the word vocation itself, which is rooted in the Latin for ‘voice.’ Vocation does not mean a goal I pursue. It means a calling that I hear. Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am. I must listen for the truths and values at the heart of my own identity, not the standards by which I must live – but the standards by which I cannot help but live if I am living my own life.” (Let Your Life Speak, 4-5).
Voice. We all have a unique voice hidden deep inside, a one-of-a-kind voice given to us by God. To discover our true identity, we listen to what we feel and what we think. We listen to deep wisdom growing from our soul to overflow our lips. We listen to the truths and the values saturating our uniqueness. When we are honest with ourselves, we sense in stronger measure: “There is a life I cannot help but live if I am living my own life.”
God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6, CEV).
…Sue…
P.S. This Monday, we begin the Winter/Spring semester offered through the Women’s Ministry at Northside Church. Touch on this link to browse our course descriptions and to register for a class tickling your fancy: https://northsideyouth.wufoo.com/forms/womenas-ministry-2018-winterspring-classes/
