day 482: "Getting The Call"

Who hasn't fantasized about getting "the call" that offers us the dream job of our lives? Maybe that dream was to be something totally different than our work today; to be an actor, a musician, a sports player, a published author, etc. We have all had that dream and even in our current occupation the flicker of the dreams survive as we would love to get the call for the big promotion, the transfer, or the assignment of a lifetime. The question is if we got "the call" would we really be ready? Many times in my career I have had to sit and talk to someone and reset their expectations as their dreams and their capabilities were so far apart that they were working with very false expectations and were being set up for a big let down. There is nothing wrong with being a dreamer and I firmly believe that if we don't dream, we won't reach our full potential, but it is also a reality that we must be as much of a preparer as a dreamer. We have to attain the skills, the experience and the knowledge to be ready when the call comes in. Without the readiness, if the call does come our chance of success will be much less. We must also be ready with our attitude so that we can respond in the right way and step up with full energy and confidence. In 1 Chronicles 28, David challenges Solomon as he calls him to be the next King. These are words that we can apply to our own lives to help us get ready for our own call; "And Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your ancestors. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject your forever. So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do the work." What a great lesson embedded in that call from David to Solomon; seek and know God, serve Him with all we have, be serious in what we have been given, be strong and work hard.

Reference: 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 (New Living Testament)