There is one hope in God's call to us...

On Sunday, I got into a great conversation with 2 teenagers who are wrapping up their junior year. Next year, they will be 2 of the seniors I help send off from Epiphany and our youth group.

I had been thinking about one of them in particular who had shared with us some very profound theological insights the other day. I had been wondering, given his many gifts, where God is calling him in life. Both of these young people have lively faiths, but their lives will change soon. They may leave their parents' homes next year and fall out of the pattern of going to church. So I hoped to encourage them that church is the BEST place to ask the question "what do I want to do when I grow up?" This is in fact a profoundly spiritual question.

This is one of my passions for the church-- I believe God calls each and every one of us to something. Not always to be a priest (but sometimes!) other times to be a dancer or a gymnast or an engineer. And as people get into college and their twenties, I have found this is one of the most important roles of the church, to help young people discern where God is calling them. God has made each of us unique and special, there is no one else exactly like us. Frankly, even not-so-young adults need help, often revisiting vocation throughout our lives. I am excited by models of discernment in parishes and other groups that help each other listen to God's call.

As the church, our duty to is to help each other discover our gifts and how God needs us to use them. I believe that discovering them helps us find the most meaningful and satisfying jobs, and will make us and God happier. That call matters-- each and every calling by God goes towards the ONE HOPE of new RESURRECTION life for the world.