Sunday afternoon I participated in the ordination of Pinnacle’s first seminarian to be called as a pastor, the Reverend Emily Beghin. As I listened to the chancel and bell choirs play, the scriptures being read, and the sermon given, I couldn’t help but think about the people, places and ministries she will touch. This day would change her and a small part of the world forever.

While much of the service is powerful and moving, the part that always touches me is the laying on of hands. The pastor-to-be stands in the middle and all other ordained elders, deacons and pastors lay hands on the newly ordained and pray for her. The weight of all the people who love, support you and care for you give you that last little push into ministry. It was as if they were saying “you have done well good and faithful servant; now go out and do what God has called you to do.”

While most professions don’t have the same kind of ordination into their profession, we all have a sending out. It is the moment when you show up on your first day and say and realize today is the real deal. 

What does it mean to be sent out? Jesus says it at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, “Go out and make disciples of all nations…” In this particular case, Jesus was sending us all out as Christians to do His work in the world, and as faithful believers we all are out with this ministry in mind. But what does that look like for the doctor, teacher, fast-food worker, parent, student, retiree, and caregiver? 

No matter what your profession, it means the same thing that it means for Emily. It means listening for God’s voice in your work and going where He calls. Where is He calling you? What new projects, adventures or challenges should you take on? And most importantly, listen for God to tell you who you already are. 

So often we get caught up in the world of possibilities. We look for what comes next, what we need do to get to the next place and working towards a goal. But a call isn’t something that happens next; it is something that happens now. Your very identity, gifts, skills and person make up who God has called you to be. 

Or maybe you feel lost, and wonder if God is calling you at all. Jobs, work and life has changed and you are unsure of where God is calling you now. 

No matter where you are, God is calling you; “Good and faithful servant, listen and go where I call because I love you. I have a unique and special purpose for you.”

Have you ever wished that God would speak to you in a burning bush like Moses? Whisper your name in the night like Samuel? Or hoped God would speak as a booming voice from the heavens? 

There have been many times in my life, when I have prayed, waited, listened and hoped for an answer that would show me the direction God wanted me to go. I wanted a burning bush, a miracle, or a proclamation from on high that would get my attention and say, “Go this way.” “Try this.” But I will tell you a secret. Even as a pastor, I have never heard the booming voice from heaven directing my path. You might hear experts say, "listen better", "learn how to pray", "read your Bible more". But what happens when you try all those things and you still don’t hear God’s voice?

Yesterday I was driving in one of Arizona’s monsoon rain storms when I looked up and saw the rain pouring down from the heavens just as you would expect, but the rain was cupped by a rainbow. It was as if the storm was being held at bay by the very promise God gives us that says, I will never let the trials, challenges or mistakes of your life overshadow the love I have for you. 

I wonder if in our hard work of listening to hear God’s still, small voice speak to us (or the loud booming one we always wish for), we forget the voice of promise that never leaves us — "I love you and I will be with you always."

Listening to God requires patience, practice, time and faithfulness, but more importantly listening requires recognizing the promise that is being spoken from the heavens all the time. 

A rainbow isn’t a voice from the heavens nor a burning bush, but you can see it from thousands of miles away. What other ways is God speaking His promises to you without realizing it?

Have you ever told someone the story of yourself?  Mine might begin something like, "Once upon a time, there was a little red-headed girl named Kelsy. She loved learning and being with her family, but her favorite thing to do was help her grandma bake her famous cinnamon rolls." The story might tell of my favorite Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls that my grandma made for me, a pivotal high school class, choosing a college, becoming a pastor and so much more. In between the highs of my life, there would also be stories I might want to hide or pretend didn't exist, like mistakes made, challenges worked through and tears that were shed. 

I wonder if these are the things that someone else might tell about me. Would my story be unknown? Would it tell of my achievements and failures? Or would it tell a different story of God's justice being lived out and a God who loves us enough to lead us through the dark valleys to the place we can rest in His presence.  

The truth is that no matter what we or others say about our story, God’s story of us is filled with his unending love and grace bigger than any mistake or sin we make. The Holy Spirit is moving in and around us and we have the freedom to be called into his constant presence every single day.

Whatever your story includes, know that God's story of your life is beautiful, good and filled with hope. May we all live into that story. 

I am not sure if you have had the gift of seeing the Grand Teton Mountains in person, but to do so is to see the grandeur of God. During my summer vacation, I spent some time hiking, relaxing and watching these powerful mountains before me. Their beauty is beyond words. Their height, depth and magnificence tells me that the worries that keep me up at night and the stress of the day are not necessary, because God has everything under control. I wonder if the grandeur is God’s way of saying, “It’s ok, I am right here.”

It is the same experience when you see Old Faithful, watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon, see the gentle smoky mountains that go on forever, and sit next to the ocean to hear the waves rush in again and again. To see these awe inspiring places remind us that we stand in the presence of God.

And yet, I have been to each of these places, and more often than not, I come across people on a mission rushing from one place to the next. They hurry around the next bend in the trail, marking off landmarks and sights in order to say they have seen it. I always feel sad for these people because they are missing something by rushing. They are missing something because they haven’t taken the moment to stop and really see what is before them.

It is easy to do. I know because I often do it every day as I rush from meeting to meeting, race through e-mails and hurry to complete projects. It is like running around the bends in the road to see what might be around the next corner instead if standing in the moment. It is easy to get ahead of ourselves and think it is our job to solve the problems, fix the situation and turn lemons into lemonade.

We all need to be reminded that God’s presence is in this place. It is easy to forget that God has a plan for whatever situation you are in, that the Holy Spirit is in the projects, plans and meetings we attend. It makes me wonder if God creates these places as reminders that in the midst of whatever is going on in your life, we are standing in the presence of God.

I encourage you to see where God shows up today in your life, whether it is at Grand Teton National Park, in an office or at home.