The mist clears away at Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington
A short while ago, I was talking with a family member about my current writing work. He looked at me and said, “Why don’t you get a real job? You can just sit at your computer all day and watch YouTube videos!”
Views toward La Plata Peak from UN12812, White River National Forest, Colorado
Obviously, he doesn’t understand freelance writing (lol!) I wanted to laugh out loud; sit at my computer and watch YouTube? Hardly!
Spires along the Echo Canyon Trail in Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona
But he spoke the subtle looks I get sometimes when I say I’m working from home; that I’m freelancing. It’s the “oh, someday you’ll grow up and get a real job” look. The “yeah, you’ll get over it” look. The pitying glace of people who have grown up and learned that “you can’t follow your dreams and actually make a living”.
Mt. Hood from Lookout Mountain in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
I had to return again to what God says about me – not what people say, not what people insinuate. God called me to where I am. I can have peace about it, because while there are aspects I wish were working better, I know where I am called to be in this season, and I would rather be where God has me than to be the biggest millionaire in the world.
The mist clears around the High Bluff Overlook in Redwood National Park, California
“The confidence of my calling enables me to overcome every difficulty without shame, for I have an intimate revelation of this God. And my faith in him convinces me that he is more than able to keep all that I’ve placed in his hands safe and secure until the fullness of his appearing.” 2 Timothy 1:12
The La Sal Mountains from Anticline Overlook in Canyon Rims National Recreation Area, Utah
There is no shame in following God’s calling on your life. There’s no shame in following the passions and interests He has placed in your heart. People won’t understand. But that’s ok, because He didn’t call you to make everyone happy; He called to you bring Him pleasure.
Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams from the Cooper Spur Trail in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
The reality is that God calls different people to different things. I’m very glad God hasn’t called every American citizen to be president of the United States. But He has called certain people into federal leadership positions. He calls some to pastoral ministry, others to the corporate workplace, and even some to janitor service. He calls some into engineering, others into the medical industry, and still others into academia, the judicial system, customer service, retail, public land protection, on and on. The possibilities are as endless as God’s infinite mind.
Sugarloaf Mountain and the spires of Chiricahua National Monument from the Sarah Deming Trail, Arizona
Not everyone will understand God’s call on your life and your interests because they may not have been given the same call and interests. For example, someone I know loves cool cars. Honestly, I could care less about his cool cars. But get me talking about the wilderness, and you can guess what happens.
Small falls in Pine Creek along the Cathedral Lake Trail, White River National Forest, Colorado
In a perfect world, we can honor each other’s callings and interests (sure, I can talk cool cars for a little while – or at least not insinuate that his cool cars aren’t worth caring about!) But we live in an imperfect world, and not everyone understands that their own calling and interests aren’t everyone’s callings and interests.
Colorado River Overlook along the White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
We need to be able to say, with Paul the Apostle, “I am not ashamed, because I know Who gave me these interests and this calling. He can and will take care of me.” That’s confidence. Not in ourselves, but in the God we know will pull us through by His grace and His goodness.
