Isaiah 6:6-8
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said,
“See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said,
“See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Reflection
I was at a Retreat, in a silent prayer time, sitting under a shady tree. I was praying about a sense of call to a particular ministry. I did pray impatiently, “Lord, it would be really good, though, if you gave me some clear sign you are really calling me!” A large red-flowering gumnut immediately dropped directly in the middle of my note book I had propped on my lap, with the stem so cleanly broken off, it was as if picked for purpose. I laughed out loud!
Isaiah sat in his sense of unworthiness as he felt God’s closeness. In grace and love, God removed any such disgrace. A call is offered in an open-ended invitation “I am choosing…”, allowing the liberty to answer “Who will offer to go?” In God’s way, as we walk through life, waves of callings come before us. We have the freedom to listen and respond, or to let that call flow by. Even when we think we are unworthy, unexpected callings come in unlikely places. The gumnut never falls far from the tree, like a call that is offered will be connected to the Way of response. It is our choice to own it, accept it and delight in the new flowering of life with God.
I was at a Retreat, in a silent prayer time, sitting under a shady tree. I was praying about a sense of call to a particular ministry. I did pray impatiently, “Lord, it would be really good, though, if you gave me some clear sign you are really calling me!” A large red-flowering gumnut immediately dropped directly in the middle of my note book I had propped on my lap, with the stem so cleanly broken off, it was as if picked for purpose. I laughed out loud!
Isaiah sat in his sense of unworthiness as he felt God’s closeness. In grace and love, God removed any such disgrace. A call is offered in an open-ended invitation “I am choosing…”, allowing the liberty to answer “Who will offer to go?” In God’s way, as we walk through life, waves of callings come before us. We have the freedom to listen and respond, or to let that call flow by. Even when we think we are unworthy, unexpected callings come in unlikely places. The gumnut never falls far from the tree, like a call that is offered will be connected to the Way of response. It is our choice to own it, accept it and delight in the new flowering of life with God.
Prayer – Calling
In the whispering wind,
I hear you breathing in my ear;
though I turn my head to let the noise go by.
For by listening, I am drawn to respond
and feelings overwhelm me.
My silence
meets your murmuring.
The stirring in my soul
and your warmth in my being,
draws my mind to your presence.
Here I am, Gentle One.
Send me,
my companion on the Way.
© Rev Anne Hewitt 26/05/2021
this reflection & prayer may be shared as long as the original writer is credited.
In the whispering wind,
I hear you breathing in my ear;
though I turn my head to let the noise go by.
For by listening, I am drawn to respond
and feelings overwhelm me.
My silence
meets your murmuring.
The stirring in my soul
and your warmth in my being,
draws my mind to your presence.
Here I am, Gentle One.
Send me,
my companion on the Way.
© Rev Anne Hewitt 26/05/2021
this reflection & prayer may be shared as long as the original writer is credited.