The Call
／Hsiao Ching
"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?
