"For such a time as this"

While I have time off from school, I have taken some time to read a bunch of books from the recommended reading list that Union gave to me last year. I will be the first to admit that some of these are those "forced" readings that you are doing because you know you should, but they aren't really what you would be reading if you were given an option, but the one I am reading now is actually pretty good.

"The Close" by Chloe Breyer tells of a young woman's first year in seminary. There are many differences between Chloe and myself- she is a "second career" student, married, and Episcopalian while I have not really had a real career yet, am not married, and Presbyterian. However I think that no matter the denomination, career status, and marital status, there are a few things about seminary that are pretty common throughout. As I slowly make my way through the book (for some reason I don't move as fast through books unless they are Max Lucado or Dan Brown, who unfortunately doesn't have any books to help me right now), a few things have stuck out to me, but one imparticular reference keeps hitting me in the head.

In the story of Queen Esther (yep, goin all Old Testament on ya now!), the king has taken some Jews captive and is planning on destroying them (it is important to know that Esther is a Jew but has not revealed this to the king). After hearing of what is going on, Esther decides that she must do something since she is living in the king's house, knowing that it is very possible that she and her family will be wiped out if she reveals who she is. However, Mordecai says "Who knows? Perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this (Esther 4:14)." The thought that Esther, a Jew, would be made queen so that she could free the other Jews from the hold of the king is a huge thing to comprehend. But that is how God does things... he makes them so miraculous and incredible that it is almost hard to believe and we then have to let our faith guide us.

That is kind of how I feel today. I just completed 4 1/2 years of jumping hurdles to complete two music degrees, and I am well on my way in the race and hurdles to even begin my time in seminary. I will be the first to say that this is HARD and the last thing I want to do is keep jumping hurdles and fighting for what I believe. Honestly there have been times that I thought it might just be better if I let it all go and go find a middle school band to teach, but there is no possible way that I could do that. Did Esther let the fact that she was a Jew stop her from going to save the rest of the Jews? Nope. So why would I let the fact that one person may not like what I am doing stop me from doing it?

I have big aspirations for the future. I have dreams to help the youth of the church in ways that my unique combination of gifts will bring alive. Was life made easy for Esther? Nope. But she was made queen "for such a time as this" and I feel that I am called to ministry "for such a time as this". Yes, I am still discerning what that call really is, and I don't think that I will ever have the full answer, and especially won't come close sitting at home reading books. I need some time in full and dedicated study, in discussion with others that are going through the same process, and those that have and know how to guide me.

We are all called to do something "for such a time as this". The question is what is your something?

NOW is the perfect time to do it... just don't the hurdles and non-believers get in your way!!