Inside Job

To dissuade young Thomas Aquinas from joining the Dominican Order, his family locked him in their castle’s tower. Not metaphorically. Literally. For nearly a year!(They tried other things too, but this is a PG article.)

Why? Because the people closest to him couldn’t understand the call on his life.

They had other plans for him.

Lofty plans. Noble plans. Not his plans.

So, what’s the point?

Sometimes our family won’t get it.

Sometimes our friends won’t cheer.

Sometimes the people we thought would rally, retreat.

Sometimes they laugh.

So, what?

The mission God places in our hearts isn’t always going to make sense to the crowd.

It’s not supposed to. It’s not their mission!

And it’s okay. Encouragement is lovely, but it’s not a requirement. (Besides, they’re dealing with their own stuff.)

Our calling is an inside job.

Planted deep. Watered quietly. Guarded fiercely.

By us. And by God.

Unless someone’s barricaded us in a medieval tower, chances are, we are free to follow our calling.

Even if we have to do it quietly at first. Even if no one claps.

St. Thomas never quit. Neither should we.