Called.

"If you are feeling compelled to do so much that you are physically worn out, you may be driven instead of led."
- Joyce Meyer

If I am nothing else.... I am driven.  And if you ask my husband, he'll confirm that  it's very easy for me to work so hard that I drive myself into the ground and try to take a team of people with me.  Or my family.  Or my friends.  Or anyone caught on the road I'm on.

Not really a good thing.

I think I've always passed my drivenness off as 'a great work ethic'.  But is it?   Would a great work ethic make me feel like I'm drowning most of the time?  Would it make it irritable and cranky and a mean mama to my kids and a distant wife to my hubby?  Sigh.........probably not.  It's something I try to balance every day.

Now....making the switch.  

I also feel that I am led.  Definitely.  I've felt led for years to help people.  I don't have that same leading as many do where I feel a burden to feed the poor, clothe the homeless or adopt 20 kids to get them off the street.  I've struggled with all those things.  I've felt guilty that more charity subjects don't move me like they do other people.  I tried to force it several times.  But, that just made me feel more guilty because those causes didn't naturally stir me.  Not that I'm indifferent to any of these things.......they do move my heart.......but I don't get that 'stop everything and eliminate this problem' movement.  And, I've  wondered what the heck was wrong with me.  Am I just cold??

But.....after reading Joyce Meyer's above quote the other day, I realized.....not all callings are charity related.  They don't all involve non-profits and fundraisers and donations.  Sometimes they are different.  And, just as valuable....in a different kind of way.

I'd have to say that half the artists in my gallery have never sold anywhere else.  Sanctuary is the first venue they have been brave enough to submit materials to.  Sanctuary is the first place they have made their first sale.  And there is nothing more gratifying than calling or emailing a tentative artist who isn't sure their work is worth showing.....maybe afraid people are going to laugh at them...... and I get to tell them, 'congrats......you made a sale!'  Hearing the excitement in their voices is worth a million bucks to me.  I live for it.

And.....another thing that I love, love, love is seeing customers come in and find the most perfect piece of handmade art, jewelry, pottery, etc. that reminds them of something powerful in their own lives.  They connect with it.  We've sold items to people who had tears in their eyes as we wrapped the purchase up.  And, as a connection of the customer to the artist, I've had customers made huge purchases and then leave them with us for days so the artist could have time to come up and sign the piece or bring up info on themselves so the buyer can always know the face and perhaps the story behind the art.  Sanctuary connects people to people, and puts a story behind every purchase.  I live for that.

So, is my calling different?  Yes.  Is it valuable?  Yes.  Is it going to save the world?  No.

But....I truly feel my calling builds people up.  It builds confidence.  It builds bridges and relationships.....even if those relationships aren't face to face.  It builds stories.  It builds happiness.  It builds memories.  It builds.

And that's a call worth answering.