Over the past couple of weeks, I have been mulling over the idea of having multiple callings. I heard a great podcast a while back in which the speaker (Chalene Johnson, recommend for a great assortment of business and life principles) suggested that a lot of us have one purpose, but many passions. We have one overarching purpose in life, but it finds expression through many different passions over the course of our lives.

I resonated with that idea. One purpose, multiple passions.
The bottom line is that I do have one calling. Joel preached on Ephesians for a couple of weeks ago, where I read, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (4:1-3)

Walk in a manner worthy of the calling. One calling to which I have been called. And then, the details: walking with humility, gentleness, patience. Being not just tolerant, but loving toward those who might try my patience. Eager to maintain unity through the Holy Spirit. Eager to maintain a bond of peace with others.

Overall, this is my calling. I am called to walk as an imitator of Christ, living out of an abundance of grace, letting the Holy Spirit dictate not only my words and actions, but my very thoughts.

The other callings, or “vocations,” serve the one calling. I am a wife. A mother. A portrait photographer. A website designer. A small business owner. A music director. An advisor, a counselor, a friend. There are many things in which I am interested, and many things that I enjoy doing. But all of them serve the greater calling, which is to imitate Christ.

Okay.  Let’s shift gears ever so slightly.

Have you ever thought about the word “universe”?

(What, that didn’t feel like a slight shift? It is. Trust me on this.)

I love that word. If I were going to break it down, the word literally means “one turned,” and carries with it the idea of combining all into one. It’ root was first used by Cicero and other other philosophers to talk about all that there was, and reflected the idea of the turning of the planets overhead. It referred to everything that could be observed–and therefore, every thigh that was.

Within the word “universe” is the idea of the rich, vast complexity of all there is, folded into one. Rich, nuanced, and one.

And I can’t help but think of another use of that root word…”verso”, meaning song. Universe: One verse. Now, let me be clear: that’s not the original meaning of this word. But this secondary interpretation is delightful; it is a word that points to the fact that all of creation is limiting its multiplicity of voices, singing one song to its Creator.

We are made in the image of the One who created the universe. It should come as no surprise that through the different seasons of our lives, we discover new and multifaceted interests within our own hearts, and new talents and gifts ready to be used for the glory of the creator. Part of our challenge is picking them up, examining them, and learning to use them. We can encourage one another in this endeavor, holding each other’s dreams with respect, and marveling at the unique gifts given each one of us.

Tell me about your gifts. What passions has the Lord laid on your heart for his glory? How can I encourage you in your multiple callings, even as you pursue your one calling?

May the Lord be delighted as his children enjoy the gifts he has given.