You can’t…?

When I was 5, my piano teacher said I couldn’t play the piano because my hands were always going to be small. When I was 9, a priest told me “God doesn’t call girls to be priests”. When I was in my 20’s, I was told I couldn’t have kids. When I was in my 40’s I was told I couldn’t survive my liver failure and only had a couple of months to live.

Well, I still play the piano, I am a priest, I have 2 beautiful children, and I am still alive 9 years later.

We hear a lot about what we can’t do. Sometimes we’re told “you can’t” out of meanness, sometimes it’s out of ignorance, sometimes we tell ourselves this because of fear. Whatever the reason, it’s not always a true statement. Sure, there are things that I literally cannot due. I can’t do brain surgery. I can’t be six feet tall. I can’t be an extrovert. I can’t be a natural blond. Not because I’m lacking, but because it’s not who God created me to be.

“I have called you by name and you are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). “You created my inmost being and stitched me together in my mother’s womb. For all these mysteries I thank you - for the wonder of myself, for the wonder of your works - my soul knows it well” (Psalms 139:13-16). These are true statements. These are the words, I believe, we should allow to guide us. Other people can encourage or discourage us; they can affirm or deny; they can help or hurt. God, the One who is our Creator, will always speak truth, will always love us, and will never lead us astray.

Beautifully and wonderfully made, we each have gifts from God and we each are called by God to use those gifts. Where do we discover them? In the quiet, in our communion with God, in our prayer - “my soul knows it well.” God is excited to join us where we are. God loves to be in relationship with us. God loves to walk with us while we figure things out. God will show us where and how we are called to share with the world our unique creation. We may learn through trial and error (or even failure); we may learn by a “gut” feeling; we may learn by just showing up and letting ourselves be used in that moment. I believe our responsibility is to be open to God, to be willing to go where God guides us, and to quit listening to the sometimes loud voices that tell us “We can’t”, when God is saying “We can”.

I thank God for the wonder of myself and for the wonder of you. I’m excited to see what we can do together to further God’s love in this crazy, chaotic world.

Rev. Joan