Called and Gifted

 As we enter into a New Year it is often to consider how we might what we would like to change in our lives. After the last year, our life seems to have been shaped by events beyond our control. This has not only been the effects of the pandemic but also the responses that have been adopted to help us live with the virus. This has not only been examining the effects of lockdowns but also how we seek to prevent the spread of the infection to others in our families, the places we work and in the community, we mix with. There has been a healthy caution which has been adopted not only by being vaccinated but also in seeking ways in which we can be tested to prevent the spread of the virus. Yet in many cases, we have had to respond to the rapid spread of the virus and its ability to disrupt our normal activities. As we look to the new year what do we need to see differently?

I believe this is at the heart of the Ephiphany where we recognize wise men seeking to use their human talent in seeking God. They set out from what was familiar and their understanding of where you find power and control. They understood kingship in a way that affected the political and social circumstances in which they lived. They sought someone who could guide them to make the best use of the gifts they had been entrusted. I believe this may be at the heart of how we make resolutions not just for ourselves but for the glory of God in the community we live. How do we seek to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and love our neighbour as ourselves? It helps us to see our lives in the broader context where our gifts allow us to come before God with open hands and open hearts.

This allows us to approach the year by seeing that each of us can make a difference for the common good. We no longer see our lives solely in the terms of what we can achieve but rather in how we are called to be present. It allows us to be shaped by the desire which grows within us of being wholesome and of service. This practical wholeness allows us to discover a spirituality that is present to our current circumstances with faith, hope, and love. As you seek to consider how this year might be different seek to discover each day what brings you life for the good of God, the good of yourself, and the good of the whole community. Notice the things that trip you up and then make a resolution each day to discover who you are called to become.