Perfecting the Call

I found the perfect gift for my Dad's birthday! This is not easy since anything he wants, he buys himself. So I have to precede his knowledge of what he wants. Every lunch, he takes my mom to some cute eatery, and then they drive circuitous routes home, enjoying the scenery. Often they stop at a park to feed the geese. Sometimes the geese are far from the picnic table where my folks sit, so they watch the geese in the distance, their unused packets of crackers in their pockets. It is hard for them to walk very far, so they have to be content in observing the geese, but not interacting with them. It is of course a little disappointing. Feeding the geese is a highlight for them.

This gave me a brainstorm. I went online and found the world's best beginner goose call. It is a short reed caller, that the manufacturer claimed, "Anyone can master." Sold! I told Dad he could open the package as soon as it arrived, though his birthday is not till Nov. 7. 

Dad called a couple of days ago. He was delighted with the gift, though frankly, he wasn't sure what it was. There had been no identifying packaging or instructions. Just the goose call wrapped in newspaper. I explained it was a Canada goose call. No longer would he and Mom have to be helpless bystanders to the distant flocks of geese. Now they could lure them near!  Dad blew into his call, and did sound like a loud goose...sort of...

Nonetheless, I went online and found many YouTube instructional videos on how to use a short reed goose call. I sent the links to him. Invariably in the videos, the instructor was a young man, not very sure of himself, who seemed to be making this video despite painful shyness out of a deep desire to spread the arcane knowledge of goose calling. And each one of them apologized to the viewer, saying, "I'm not very good at goose calling...but you'll get the idea."

I found that so touching. These shy young men seemed to be making the videos despite limited self confidence and less than expert skills out of a deep desire to help others. I personally thought they sounded just like a goose with their goose call, and I was impressed at their selfless goodwill towards goose call wannabees. Besides that, they may not have been competition-worthy goose callers, but they were a lot better than me or my dad, and thus helpful in instructing someone with no knowledge.

Yesterday morning, we were at the final day of our new membership class for the church we attend. The last portion of our training was about spiritual gifts. Everyone has gifts that God has given them, and they are to be used for the glory of God and in His service.  The pastor pointed out that sometimes people don't know their gifts, and that was ok. Serve anyway. Find a need and meet it. On the way, eventually, you will find your gift.

As I watched the YouTube video of the shy, faltering young goose callers, instructing those just a little less knowledgable than they, I thought they were a wonderful example of people using whatever they have to serve others. Find a need, and meet it. On the way, you may find your calling.

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There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve, but we serve the same Lord. And there are different ways that God works in people, but it is the same God who works in all of us to do everything. Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person. The Spirit gives this to each one to help others. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 ERV)