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Don’t Forget to Ask the Right Question! And Then Don’t Ignore the Answer!

If you don't ask the right questions, you can't get the right answers. That's a basic principle of success in almost any endeavor. Everyone can more than likely think of a time in their life when they had to ask the right question. As a matter of fact, it can be devastating to not ask the right question.

To the real estate agent, "Is this house on a flood plain?"

To the used car salesman, "Can I have the phone number of the little old lady who owned this car?”

To the insurance agent, "Can you tell me what is not covered?"

To God, “What are you calling me – Michael Weeks – to do with my life?”

That is the question that I asked when I was in high school, and I know now that I spent several years ignoring God’s answer.

I remember the first time God called me. I was at camp the summer before my junior year in high school. We awoke at 7:30, our last full day in this wonderful place, to the sound of maybe ten billion crickets and a thousand birds chirping, barely in time for breakfast at eight. We sang grace, as was the custom, and ate our pancakes and bacon. I remember tasting a banana and drinking cold orange juice--a great camp breakfast. But it wasn't just any camp; no, we had a special purpose that week. It was a work camp with a special goal in mind.

We left breakfast and went out into the warm summer day. The heat was what we in Oklahoma called sweltering. (Well, I know now that Georgians also call that kind of humidity sweltering.) The breeze was non-existent. It felt more like a blast furnace than anything.

We had special tools for digging and woodworking and special carts for carrying concrete. We picked up our tools and headed down the path between big beautiful green trees and among the birds and crickets that had awoken us in the morning. The trees seemed to be bearing down on us. Our task was before us. What a welcome relief those trees were as we stepped into their shade! We had just two hundred feet to go and the concrete path would be completed.

Why concrete? Isn't camp for living in nature? Why not a good old dirt path? The answer to the questions lays that week’s purpose and my opportunity to hear God calling me into the ministry. You see there are some campers who cannot walk among the trees. Not all people have the same mobility. Why should they be denied the beautiful scenery in the trees if they cannot walk? Our mission was to enable all people to have the opportunity to “walk” in the woods. Those two hundred feet would complete the one- mile path through the forest. Sweating and heaving, hammering and nailing, singing and laughing, we joyously completed our task. I'm sure they could hear us miles away when the last wheel barrow of concrete was carried into the woods. That’s right, the concrete trucks could not back down the path and dump their loads. We did not want trees to be cut down. Cutting the trees would spoil the view. Instead, we opted to use the wheelbarrows to transport the concrete into the woods.

At the final worship service that night, after we washed each other’s feet there was a time when several of us were invited to speak. I spoke about the times when I had served as a counselor at camps for the disabled and how important it was for our work camp to build a concrete path. That night four different people challenged me to become a pastor. I knew that they were right because I had felt God’s presence as I spoke.

I did not listen that day or during the days that followed. I tried to find other ways to fill my life. I attended college and started working in television and radio. I made money. I took great vacations. I was a youth sponsor at my church. But every so often I would remember that night and the feelings that I experienced. Sending people and situations into my life that reminded me of that last night at work camp, God continued to call me. Finally, I answered God’s call and my life has become much more fulfilling and meaningful.

So many wonderful opportunities and meaning-filled experiences have come my way since I was ordained as minister of the Gospel. I think being a pastor is the best way for me to serve God. I think you should consider the pastoral ministry as a possible vocation for you.

There were plenty of people I could have talked to about my call, but I think I lacked the courage to ask for help. It is my prayer that you will talk to your minister or one of the many ministers who counsel and direct in the Georgia camping program about your vocational opportunities. I would be happy to talk with any of you who need someone to listen.

There is no doubt in my mind, no matter who you are, that God is calling you! Not everyone is called to become a pastor, but we can all serve God in whatever vocation we choose. Not all of you will be called to serve in the traditional church. Many of you will be called into specialized ministries. I have been called to be your Associate Regional Minister, working with youth, young adults, and the camping program. There will be many job opportunities in the church, on the mission field, and in outdoor ministries for people like you in the years to come. My advice is for you to ask the right questions, to pray, to talk and listen to God, and to not ignore the answer God is sending to you.