Two blogs ago I brought up the powerful and releasing concept\u00a0of \u201cour contribution.\u201d A few responded;\u00a0I’m always grateful. Today, it’s another topic, related but different, and all the more life-changing.<\/p>\n
Our contribution<\/em>, as I explained, comes from a bit of self-analysis, an identification of our own particular uniqueness, then a determination to put that\u00a0into practice for the wider good.<\/p>\n Calling<\/em>\u00a0has the same effect, but originates from a higher place.<\/p>\n Recently the small group of friends with whom we regularly meet, addressed this notion personally. Am I called? To what? How do I know? What am I doing about it?<\/p>\n These are the questions, the answers to which can bring profound focus to the life, and ultimately affect the lives of others.<\/p>\n A synonym for calling is vocation<\/em>.\u00a0That\u00a0comes from having heard something vocalized<\/em>, likely at a very deep level, which then\u00a0becomes our life work. It’s something so strong, we really have no choice.<\/p>\n In making our contribution\u00a0we\u00a0take the initiative. Our calling<\/em>, on the other hand, did not originate with us. It’s something we really can’t get out of. At least not without a strong denial and resistance.<\/p>\n Calling can manifest in either of two ways . . . using known gifts for a new and deeper purpose, or realizing new gifts. The Apostle Paul was of the first category, Peter of the second. Paul was a man of imposing intellect and unrelenting zeal. The calling he experienced mid-career ended up using those same powers\u00a0but for a different\u00a0cause. It changed the world. The Apostle Peter, on the other hand, when he was called, left his primary occupation altogether. (That changed the world too.)<\/p>\n When we personalized these thoughts in our little group, identified our own sense of calling, we found it of great benefit for each of us.<\/p>\n So I recommend it to you. Are you called?<\/p>\n Identifying it has great motivating power.<\/p>\n And could change the world. At least yours.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Building on “your contribution,” this originates from a higher source than your own initiative. And can change everything.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9886"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9886"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10670,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9886\/revisions\/10670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}