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Steering is published monthly by Overseas Evangelical Mission, Copyright 2001

The Call

"Call her", the voice said. I walked past the phone for the third time. "I want you to call her." I finally answered," But what would I say? She's probably too sick to pick up." "Let her decide that," the voice replied," just do it."

So, with hands shaking, I picked up the phone and called *Annie. I thought, "Please have her not be home!" But she was, and she was relieved to have someone in this time of need.

When Annie was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that led to amputating her left leg, she still had friends. The phone would ring. Meals would be brought to her house for her and the family.

This time it was different. Eyes avoided her in the church hallways, the telephone was silent. This time, she had no friends, so it seemed. No one knew what to do, no one knew what to say. She was a victim, yet being treated as the convict.

You see, her husband Dave was just discovered to have an addiction to pornography. During his internet travels, he shared this involvement with a woman (so he thinks)in Seattle. When he was caught last week, he announced he was leaving the two children, Annie (still in the middle of her chemo), countless bills, to live with this other person, of whom he has never met.

So, that morning, God asked me to call her... and I did. I was glad afterward, I was unaware of her loneliness and suffering. I was able to use the gifts God had given me: Friendship; Compassion; Help: Healing; Humor; to nourish her soul.

When I think back on my life, the talents God has offered me, my many callings to use them, whether it be in an full time church ministry, business, or therapy, the most challenging are times as I shared with Annie.

For it is the daily callings of my life that I am not so ready to give up. My routine is not to be disturbed. "Make an appointment, God" I'd say. "Don't interrupt me, I'm busy doing good stuff already, can't you see?"

When god calls us, it isn't always some grandiose mission project in the middle of Afghanistan. He begins in the small voice of your heart. He starts with where you are, in that very day, that very minute.

God is calling you, right now, where you are sitting. Do you hear Him? That's the easy part. The hard part is: Will you follow? Or will you walk past for the third time?