Today is a special day for me. Nine years ago

 I was ordained a priest of the Church. My journey to that event was a long one, although not as long as some others’. For me, it had started more than ten years before when I was still a teenager. The seed to consider ordination had been planted before I was even in high school, and as a result of my continued participation in the Church, both my home parish and in our diocesan youth ministry, a call formed. Discerning calls is not an exact science. It involves prayer and listening and talking and more prayer, and around and around it goes.

In our tradition discernment to ordained ministry takes two kinds of affirmation; the affirmation we receive in our hearts as we undertake a process, and then an external affirmation from the Church community itself. I found both. Without both of those, it would be unlikely for a person to be ordained, although sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t happen despite both. My journey was certainly centered in community, namely my home parish of St. James, Lancaster, Pa. It had been the church of my father’s childhood, and a place where the Purdy’s had engaged in ministry with the entirety of their being for more than 50 years by the time of my ordination.

My grandfather had been a warden in the church, and my grandparents were the first husband and wife appointed to “Life Vestry” status, a sort of emeritus recognition for having served at least twice each on the Vestry of the parish. My mother was on the Vestry several times, and most of the family sang in the choir,

myself included. Add in the Sunday school teaching, the outreach efforts, and the fact that my grandfather was the default locksmith for the parish (I helped him rekey the locks at least twice after someone lost a master key), and it becomes clear that my family was an influential part of that parish and vice versa. Although there are no more Purdy’s worshipping there now, my own life is forever tied to that community where I was confirmed, married, baptized my first child, and then ordained to the priesthood.

Everyone is called to something. Those of us who are ordained are not “better Christians” or anything of the sort – often the opposite! We simply heard our call and understood as it took shape in the form of ordination and service to the Church and to the Body of Christ in specific ways. All of us are called to something, however, and part of our journey of faith is to discern what that is. For some it comes easily and quickly, for others it will be their life’s work. In reality, discernment never ends. God always pulls and pushes and prods us to keep moving in the Way that Jesus showed us. It is a journey, as it was for Jesus, and not a destination. Discernment, while often done in stillness and quiet, is not designed to leave us where we began; discernment necessitates growth, change, and new beginnings.

Sometimes we can’t hear what discernment is calling us to; sometimes we don’t want to hear; sometimes we simply can’t believe what we’re hearing. One of the things I learned in my first days in seminary goes back to that “better Christian” reference. As you get to know some of your classmates (who will remain nameless) you can’t help but think to yourself, “You mean God called them?” We’re all human and we’re all imperfect. In my last parish I walked with a woman through her discernment (she has since been ordained a priest). One day she was in tears because she was hearing this call to priesthood but felt totally inadequate to accept it. I reminded her that God has a habit of calling people to the places God needs them. I shared my understanding that God equips the called, not that God only calls the equipped. Her unique gifts were intended for a particular purpose, and if God was truly calling, God would make it right.

I give thanks quite regularly that I have the opportunity to serve as a priest in the Church. I can’t say that I have loved every minute of ordained ministry (who can?), but I can say that I’ve never had a single day of doubt that I’m in the vocation that I was created for. I recognize the blessing that comes with an alignment of calling and vocation, and it is the sort of thing I pray everyone finds at some point. For some, their full-time vocation will fulfill that opportunity for alignment. For others, it comes through volunteerism and things that we do “on the side.” Whatever your calling is, I pray that you find it, that you embrace it, that you live it out, and that you are able to rejoice in it as well.

Tom+

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.