From time to time I hear people say, “if only God would tell me what he wants me to do.” And even if we think we hear God talking to us we aren’t really sure we are hearing/believing that what we are hearing could possibly be true.

Several years ago I was at an event where Archbishop Harry Flynn was speaking. He told the following story that has stuck with me over the years.

There was an extremely run down farm in a small town in Minnesota. Years of neglect had taken its toll and it took some imagination to see that it had even been a farm. A young couple bought the farm and through vision and long days of hard work, they had it looking and operating better than it probably ever had.

They were proud of their success at turning the farm around and invited the deacon from their church to the farm to show him what they had accomplished. They showed him the fields that were cultivated and ready for planting. He told them what a wonderful accomplishment they and God had made in the fields. They showed him the barns and the other out buildings with their fresh coats of paint. He once again told them what a wonderful accomplishment they and God had made to brighten up the buildings. They then showed him the fences they had repaired and how straight and sturdy they were. He told them what a wonderful accomplishment they and God had made with their fences.

As the deacon was getting ready to leave the farmer took him by the arm and told him, "Everything we showed you, you said what a wonderful accomplishment you and God had made”. Well, just so you know, "God didn't do such a good job with the farm when he had it all alone.”

Well, of course, God could have fixed up the farm without anyone's help. But he didn't. He relied on this couple to do the work. And, just as God relied on the couple to do the work, he relies on all of us to do the work he has called each of us to do. God has given us all we need to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

To some extent the issue many of us have is figuring out what it is that God wants us to do--what is our calling or callings for that matter. It sometimes seems that God is not talking to us. But God puts ideas in our heads. Sometimes we wonder where in the world that idea came from. God can’t be asking me to do that – I’m too shy. I could never work with the poor – I would feel too bad for them. How can I be a Eucharistic minister – I’m just not that good of a person.

Well, God doesn’t make mistakes. Yes, you are hearing correctly. You didn’t come up with the idea to pray for life at the abortion clinic on your own – God prompted you. You didn’t have the idea to visit the widow down the road on your own – God prompted you. You didn’t think about working at the food shelf on your own – God prompted you. Get the idea?

God puts people or events in our lives that can help us to recognize what it is he wants us to do.

Someone invited us to Cursillo. Some of us ran with it right away, others were slow starters; others found that God was calling them to something else -- or something in addition. It’s up to us to run with those promptings and not talk ourselves into disregarding God’s call.

The point is God could do all the work himself, he doesn't need to -- he has us. We are called to serve and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let us pray to know where or what God is leading us to.

By Dn Rod Palmer