Where shall I go from your Spirit?
      Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
      If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
      and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
      and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139:7-10

It’s been a full weekend. I’m heading into Monday running on fumes. Have you had those days where you are fully and completely exhausted—and yet totally and completely filled? This was my weekend. And, if you’ll allow me to indulge you for a moment, I promise I’ll get to a point where the focus will turn from me and my weekend to you and the calling God has on your life.

Saturday started, as they often do, with me waking up my second oldest to get her off to a volleyball tournament. She is in her second year of high school and her second year on the varsity team. We spent 12 hours in the gym. It was a looooooonggg day—but so rewarding. The team did amazing and won the whole tournament. Even more, my daughter played the best volleyball she has ever played. My heart was beaming as I watched her excel at something she loves.

Reflect about a time you were firing on all cylinders doing something that brought you joy and delight? It is a beautiful thing when God puts you in a spot that allows you to shine.

Did I mention it was 12 hours in the gym? I went to bed with a hurting back and a full heart.

On Sunday it was my joy and delight to baptize a little guy. Gunner just turned 1, has the most amazing hair I’ve ever seen, and he was staring into my eyes as I poured 3 scoops of water over his head. He’s my brother now—your too. And his identity has been secured as a child of God. Baptisms are the best. They are the mystery of God as they link us to the saving work of Jesus.

Later, in the same service, I had the joy of laying my hands on—along with others from the congregation—as we prayed and blessed a young woman as she sets off on an adventure. She is moving to China in the coming weeks. She’ll be teaching English as a second language to youth. God has put a calling on her life and she is chasing it. To travel, encounter and bless people in other cultures, and to shine her light as she goes. Praying over her and sending her while reminding her God is already waiting for her in her new town.

Sunday evening I had the joy of worshiping, preaching, and installing Pastor Chuck Mann as the new Co-Pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Evans, GA. The excitement and joy of the congregation was palpable. Pastor Mann is living into the calling God has placed on his life. Leading, preaching, presiding, serving, and loving in many and various ways is ahead for him and the congregation he serves. It is a joy to celebrate such occasions and to point to Jesus, the author of it all.

Finally, Monday I’m taking my oldest on his first college visit as he begins to step into his future and all that God has in store for him.

As I said, I’m exhausted. But I’m also so energized. My feet are hardly hitting the floor as I walk. Why? In each of the instances, I see the people of God stepping into the calling of God. I don’t know if God is calling my daughter to play volleyball. But, I know He is calling her to hone her skills and be the best she can be. I know His promise was to bring us life. My daughter was living life fully on Saturday.

As I looked into Gunner’s eyes, I can clearly state that I have not a clue what is ahead for him. I don’t know where life will take him. But, I know that the Lord is already there coaxing him to follow. The Lord is already whispering in Gunner’s ear, and yours, “Remember your baptism—keep walking wet.”

I don’t know if Gunner will ever feel called to head off to China to live and work for a year. That’s what Kat is doing. Gunner’s calling is something different. It doesn’t work very well if Gunner tries to live Kat’s calling. Just like it doesn’t work well if Pastor Mann tries to be you. The beauty of the way God works—He has something for you. Something you are called to do. He has a place for you to plant and harvest. The Lord is whispering in your ear. He is nudging you forward to be a part of His work. His plan. His redemption story.

What’s your calling? That’s part of what I’m doing with Ethan on his college visit. We are discerning together. We are investigating, listening, and sensing where the Spirit is moving. And then we will trim our sails to catch that wind and keep going in the direction the Lord points.

Why? Because, when you find your calling—you may just have weekends that don’t have a moment of downtime. You may have weekends that leave you absolutely exhausted. But totally full and totally alive. And all you can do is celebrate that God has been orchestrating it all the whole time.

Sometimes we think of calling as the big thing you will do your whole life. Scratch that for this moment and get granular–what is God calling you into for the month of September?