Once upon a time, things didn't go as planned..

Once upon a time there was a fellow that had a really vivid "burning bush" experience and was 99% sure that God called him to do something specific. He listened to dozens of clergy give him advice. Everyone on the planet, it seemed, agreed that he should pursue that calling. Unfortunately a church bureaucracy impaired his progress...but not by doing anything specific. The impedance occurred because they did hardly anything at all, while continuing to just talk about it. Over the years this "cloak and dagger", stealthy process became a burden and he was puzzled by it. He became disillusioned with the process and finally quit pursuing his calling. It was very painful. The fellow withdrew from God even, for a time, but then decided that with God's help he would pick up the pieces and pursue a more general call to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in other ways. He drove by a local hospice and remembered God speaking to him years before about getting involved there as a volunteer. He decided to stop in and ask some questions.  A few weeks later after completing the requirements and training for a hospice volunteer, he began serving the Lord by serving others in a new way. God has now begun to heal his heart and he has found a new path to a service destiny that God only knows at this time.

I think you know this fellow.

I have often thought, whether it is a church or a person, if we reach out we make a space for God to reach in. I think it is true of individuals as well as churches. In any event, just remember to pray, and pray, then pray some more!

Blessings,
George