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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Finding Your Calling"
June 16, 2010
Lori and I were in the back seat of his green Chrysler station wagon as
we drove from one end of Norwich to the other. You could tell that he
loved his city. Paul was animated as he told his stories. Every so often he
would take a puff out of his big fat stogy and then he would continue his
sales pitch.
He didn't know it then but he had us from "hello." I was in town to
interview for the position of pastor at the First Baptist Church. Lori was
seven month pregnant with our first child and I was looking for a full time
job. I was fresh out of seminary and was finishing up my second year as
pastor of the Cross Mills Baptist Church in Charlestown, Rhode Island. It
was a great church but it could only support a part time pastor.
So in the spring of 1985, with parenthood on the horizon, I visited four
cities seeking my first full time call to ministry. I remember asking my
mentor, Rev. John Brooks, how you knew where God wanted you to serve.
He said, "It's a lot like being in love. When you find the right one, you
know." It sounded silly but after I left the interview that day I knew this
was the place for me.
Lori and I moved into the parsonage the week of June 20, 1985. As I
began my ministry here I sincerely hoped that I could make it four or five
years. I stole my first sermon title from Star Trek, one of my favorite
television shows. "Where no man has gone before" explored my dreams or
the next five years as pastor of the church.
Five missions and twenty five years later and I am still here. Rev. Brooks
was right. The truth is that when you are doing something that aligns with
God's will you know it. Things fall in place. Opportunities come. Blessings
follow. It doesn't matter if you are talking about serving as a pastor or
working somewhere else. I have a friend who is a teacher. He says that he
knew from day one that God had called him to teaching.
Some of us are fortunate in that our calling has become our life's work.
But God calls all of us in different ways. Some have been called to work
with children and they coach and give music lessons and teach art or dance.
Some have been called to advocate for others and they do that in politics
and public service. Some have been called to minister in the church or
synagogue and they have found places where they can bring human faces
to the work of God.
The truth is that God has called all of us to serve and sent us out to share
his truth and love with the world. There is no greater calling. The best part
of being a pastor is that I have a front row seat watching you do what God
has called you to do. I have been blessed to be a cheer leader, a counselor,
an advocate and teacher here in this beautiful city of Norwich. It is a rose
unlike any other. I have met so many wonderful children of God here.
Thank you for welcoming me 25 years ago and allowing me to serve.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal
June 16, 2010
Lori and I were in the back seat of his green Chrysler station wagon as
we drove from one end of Norwich to the other. You could tell that he
loved his city. Paul was animated as he told his stories. Every so often he
would take a puff out of his big fat stogy and then he would continue his
sales pitch.
He didn't know it then but he had us from "hello." I was in town to
interview for the position of pastor at the First Baptist Church. Lori was
seven month pregnant with our first child and I was looking for a full time
job. I was fresh out of seminary and was finishing up my second year as
pastor of the Cross Mills Baptist Church in Charlestown, Rhode Island. It
was a great church but it could only support a part time pastor.
So in the spring of 1985, with parenthood on the horizon, I visited four
cities seeking my first full time call to ministry. I remember asking my
mentor, Rev. John Brooks, how you knew where God wanted you to serve.
He said, "It's a lot like being in love. When you find the right one, you
know." It sounded silly but after I left the interview that day I knew this
was the place for me.
Lori and I moved into the parsonage the week of June 20, 1985. As I
began my ministry here I sincerely hoped that I could make it four or five
years. I stole my first sermon title from Star Trek, one of my favorite
television shows. "Where no man has gone before" explored my dreams or
the next five years as pastor of the church.
Five missions and twenty five years later and I am still here. Rev. Brooks
was right. The truth is that when you are doing something that aligns with
God's will you know it. Things fall in place. Opportunities come. Blessings
follow. It doesn't matter if you are talking about serving as a pastor or
working somewhere else. I have a friend who is a teacher. He says that he
knew from day one that God had called him to teaching.
Some of us are fortunate in that our calling has become our life's work.
But God calls all of us in different ways. Some have been called to work
with children and they coach and give music lessons and teach art or dance.
Some have been called to advocate for others and they do that in politics
and public service. Some have been called to minister in the church or
synagogue and they have found places where they can bring human faces
to the work of God.
The truth is that God has called all of us to serve and sent us out to share
his truth and love with the world. There is no greater calling. The best part
of being a pastor is that I have a front row seat watching you do what God
has called you to do. I have been blessed to be a cheer leader, a counselor,
an advocate and teacher here in this beautiful city of Norwich. It is a rose
unlike any other. I have met so many wonderful children of God here.
Thank you for welcoming me 25 years ago and allowing me to serve.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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