The Arrow and The Call

The Arrow and The Call

For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. Is. 55:9-11

One of the first questions asked of a child is what he/she would like to be when they grow up. Indeed, much of our time as parents and grandparents is spent trying to decide what skills our young ones have that they can share with the world. A recent example of this happened to me on New Year’s Eve, in which I saw some samples of artwork done by a very gifted thirteen-year-old and asked her if she would like to be a cartoonist someday. As parents, we try to imagine the beauty each of our children will bring to the world, and feel ourselves recreating our earlier years, as we ask those same questions of the precious little ones we see, whether they are our own grandchildren or the child of someone else.

It’s easy to imagine beauty, possibility, creativity, and promise in the lives of our young people. I wonder if it’s still possible to envision ourselves as full-grown adults as having those same qualities. One of the reasons I like this piece of Scripture, which is taken from the readings of The Lord’s Baptism this Sunday, is that it is a reminder that all of us, whether young or young at heart, are blessed with special gifts; I choose to call them arrows, that we can use to spread The Word to others. We do this with the peace of knowing that, just as the scripture tells, such efforts will not be in vain, but will accomplish the work for which God intends. We can only begin to know the impression our efforts make; it is often never spoken, but just like the tiny seed, fertilized and nourished with love, it will blossom as it was always intended.

Not too long ago, I was approached by some co-workers who questioned my use of the verb “serve” to describe what I do with the patients I meet each day. They felt it to be demeaning; I was better than a simple servant and should not describe myself as such. It is clear from our Holy Father’s teachings, as well as the scripture passage quoted above, that “service” is not only the correct term, it is the most appropriate term for our everyday efforts.

So, what do YOU want to be when you walk out the door tomorrow morning (or this afternoon, or whatever time finds you reading this)? What arrows are in YOUR quiver to plant the seed God intends to use for His purpose? With curious hands and joyful hearts, let us discover and use our gifts for the betterment of those we serve.