One of the readings for this upcoming Sunday is one of my favorites, although to be honest, they are all my favorites. 

It reminds me of the process toward discernment within a church denomination and it tells us how the Lord God Almighty spoke to the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was totally overwhelmed by having seen the Lord in all His glory and cried out that he was lost because he knew that he was a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and yet he was allowed to see the King, the Lord of hosts. 

A seraph took a live coal from the altar and touched the Prophet Isaiah’s lips with it, declaring that Isaiah’s guilt had departed from him and his sin was blotted out. Then the Lord God Almighty asked Isaiah, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah responded, “Here am I; send me!” (Isaiah 6, NRSV)

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Many times, in my career of service to the Lord I have asked parishioners if God has ever spoken to them, and surprisingly many, in fact the vast majority, of them have said that yes, God has spoken to them. I know that God has spoken to me as well and I have also spoken to many priests, pastors, deacons and lay leadership to ask them if God has also spoken to them.

The response that I have received from ordained persons and lay leadership is almost always identical. That response could be summarized as, yes, the Lord spoke, they understood what was being asked of them, and yet, almost everyone stated that they felt unworthy of such an honor as serving the Lord. In my case, I went so far as to look to my left, my right and behind me since I knew that I wasn’t worthy, but perhaps someone nearby me was worthy.

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I am very grateful for the oversight and the discernment process that was afforded me during my progression from laity to ordained deacon and then to ordained priest.

It was not a case of me declaring myself to be worthy, but a prolonged series of investigations, background checks, criminal checks, committees to determine whether I should be allowed to proceed, deep insights into my progression in the faith, and years and years of studying. 

I had no idea if I could compete with others who had just recently graduated with their undergraduate degree and constant evaluations along every step of the Way.

I have been affirmed by laity, deacons, priests and bishops and all of it has confirmed that the Lord God Almighty has spoken to me, called me into His service and through deep theological insight has allowed me to know that I and everyone else who acknowledges Jesus Christ their personal Lord and Savior has their part to play in the plan for us that has existed for all time.

When I examine how many times I should have been killed in my careers in the U.S. Army and in Law Enforcement I am reminded again that I have a part of play in the Plan and I am here because of God’s love for me and that I hadn’t yet fulfilled all of my part in that Plan.

So I say, “Here am I, send me!”

If you feel that the Lord God Almighty has called you into His service, please don’t ignore it, but seek out someone in your church whom you trust and speak to them about it. If they suggest that you contact the clergy and that they would consider being part of a discernment committee for you, please listen to them, for the Lord speaks in mysterious ways.

Come to the church of your choice to worship the Lord, bring your entire family with you and invite others to come with you. May God bless you, watch over you and make His face to shine upon you this and every day in your ministry to others.

The Rev. Bain White is the priest/pastor at St. Mark’s Church of Grace in Craig. He may be reached at office@stmarksepiscopal-lcog.org