Sometimes I feel like a rare bird. I feel misunderstood and I feel that I have sort of a "strange" (or not a mainstream) calling - answering a call to mentor, encourage, inspire, teach, and lead others to worship God through dance. Just think, Noah was misunderstood too - he was even made fun of and mocked we can be sure - however, he was obeying (or answering) the call to build an ark, even though there had never been any rain (Genesis 2:5; 6:13-14)?
Many of us may be answering a "call" that others do not understand or obeying a calling that seems "peculiar" or very different. However, as long as it is Biblically in line with the Word of God, it is more important for us to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Some (even our own peers, friends, family, etc.) may not understand our calling, but we have to remember we will not give an answer to them for our obedience. Make sure that whatever He has said to you to do, you are doing it (John 2:5). Even the body of Christ sometimes is guilty of wanting Christ followers to fit into a "cookie-cutter" mold. Just like Martha wanted Mary to share the same "service" gift that she had, but Mary had to be obedient to "sit" as a worshiper at Jesus' feet - of course, we are all called to "sit" at Jesus feet and be worshipers and, at some point, we should all be actively "serving" in some capacity just as Martha too, but our gifts of service and our callings are different and unique to who we are as individuals. (The main point illustrated in Luke 10:38-42 is that our first priority before God is to love, adore and worship Him, and then serve out of the overflow of a heart of love and worship.) If we don't spend some time sitting at Jesus' feet, we will not know what He is calling us to. It is also true that through serving (or just beginning to serve in some different areas), we may discover our gifts and callings as well. You will sense God's presence, peace, grace, and strength when you are functioning in your God ordained calling or using the God-given gifts He placed within you. As my Pastor, Chris Hodges, has stated, when you are doing the thing that God has called you to do, it will be a "life giving" experience and will not be draining life and strength from you, and, for the most part, it will not seem like work. We just need to make sure we are not laying down or burying the God-given gifts, callings and passions, that God has uniquely planted within each one of us for His glory and purpose, in order to please or pacify the demands and requests of others, or to "conform" to their idea of what qualifies as ministry or serving God. Again, any calling, service, gift, or ministry should first honor God and His Word, and serve, bless, and/or minister to others in some capacity (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:10).
If God has truly placed certain desires and callings within us, we are not to suppress them. On the contrary, we are to stir up those gifts and callings for His honor and His glory and to be a blessing to others as He leads us! (Romans 11:29; 1 Timothy 1:6)
When do you feel God's presence the most? When do feel the most alive to God in your spirit or in connection with the Father? Is it when you sing, write, paint, pray, play an instrument, you are serving the poor in your community, serving administratively at your church, serving your family, teaching, serving in the marketplace, ministering to physical needs, parenting, playing a particular sport, serving the elderly, counseling others, encouraging others, making others laugh, etc. etc. etc. - there are a wide variety of gifts and callings (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31). We need to be who God created us uniquely to be and do what God has called us uniquely to do! Stop comparing yourself and your gifts and your calling to others - you are His unique workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).
(Quote from "Chariots of Fire" movie by Eric Liddell: "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.")
I believe God gave me the gift of dance for a purpose. When I dance in praise & worship to God, I feel God's presence and His pleasure! Also, when I teach, choreograph, mentor and inspire others through the gift of dance, I feel the "life giving" presence of God!
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