I got a new calling in church today and let me tell you something: I am very nervous about it!

I’ve been in lots of different wards (congregations) in my life and this is maybe the third or fourth time I have really, truly loved one. There’s the tiny branch in Baltimore from my childhood, my singles ward in college, another tiny branch in Zurich, and here. Now. I don’t feel out of place, I can be myself, and our family has been totally and completely embraced. Almost since the first Sunday, I have been trying to figure out the difference; why has this been such a good experience? What’s the formula? Is it because we’re in a more permanent place? Is it because people in Marietta are nicer? Am I suddenly more approachable?

What is it?!?!?!

I’m still not sure but the thing puzzling me now is why, in a place where I have really been myself, have I been given callings that seem completely out of my depth? That run completely opposite to my personality? The first was Youth Sunday School teacher and to be honest, I didn’t really like youth when I was one. So that calling made no sense to me. Now I’m going to be serving with the children in Primary. And to be honest, I didn’t really like kids when I was one. But the great things about callings, and service in general, is that they aren’t really about you. Not about your talents, not about who you think you are, not about what you think you can do. They’re about what you have to give. They’re about being yourself, with God. A tool in His hands. There’s something I have to give to this role. We each have a service only we can provide, just by being ourselves. I didn’t know I had something to give to the Primary but with faith and God’s guidance, I’m excited to find out what that is.

Happy Sunday, everybody.

xo

eb