Last week I was ordained into Christian ministry in the United Church of Canada. It was a thrilling moment, and the culmination of seven years of preparation and study. This was actually my second 'kick at the can', for I had been ordained previously and did a twenty-year stint of ministry in a different denomination. I am grateful to all my friends who supported me through this important journey.

All of which has lead me to reflect in a fresh way on what it means to be called by God. To what are we called? Are some called and not others? If so, where does that leave the rest of us?

I do believe that some are called to give spiritual leadership in the church or other spiritual movements. I know this in part because, try as I might, I could not escape the feeling that this was what I was supposed to do in life. In the trying, I was miserable. As I said, I am so thrilled to be back serving in a way I feel I was meant to do.

This call to spiritual leadership, however, does not exempt the rest of us from answering our own call. Each of us has been born for a purpose. We have all been given unique gifts that can be used in the service of others.

Inside of us there is potential, plan and purpose that for some are just waiting to be discovered. I believe we have a responsibility to find and develop all of these. To be truly alive and fully human is to invest in ourselves to become all we can be.

We are also called to make a difference in this world; to leave it a better place than we found it, and to touch others for good. We can only do effectively by being who we were meant to be and using our abilities in the service of others. This we are all called to do. Jesus taught that we are the light of the world. If we refuse to shine, how then can the dark corners of our world be banished?

Nelson Mandela led his people into the light by being who he was. On the day of his inauguration, he is reported to have quoted a poem by Marianne Willamson. It has made a powerful impact on me. It reads,

EXCERPT FROM RETURN Christian Perspectives

Rev. Edward Bellsmith TO LOVE
Our greatest fear is not
that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful
beyond measure.
It is our light, not our
darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who
am I to be brilliant,

gor- geous, hand- some, talented and fabulous?

Actu- ally, who are you not to be?

Y o u are a
child of God.
Your playing small does
not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened
about shrinking
so that other people won't
feel insecure around you.
We were born to make
manifest the glory of God
within us.
It is not just in some; it is
in everyone.

And, as we let our own
light shine,
we consciously give other
people permission to do the
same.
As we are liberated from
our fear,
our presence automatically
liberates others.

It can be costly to invest in ourselves. It may begin with a prayer to ask God to show us our purpose in life. The answer may manifest with a dream or secret desire. Pursuing it may require taking lessons or courses, financial outlays, and investments of time and energy. It will of course, require patience and perseverance. But believe me, you are worth it. The world needs you to be the best that you can be. The alternative is everybody's loss, and is even more costly as a result.

Edward Bellsmith is now the permanent minister of Trinity and Primrose United Churches