12/15/2023
I watched Hacksaw Ridge for the first time in a long time last week. For those who don’t know, it’s the true story of US Army medic Desmond Doss in World War II, who joined the military to fight for his country but refused to carry a gun due to religious convictions.
There’s a moment in the movie where the rest of the men are retreating to safety, assuming those injured won’t last the night and so leaving them behind. As the fire picks up and Doss finds himself on the edge of his own escape, he prays, “What is it You want of me? I don’t understand. I can’t hear you.”
And suddenly, he hears a wounded soldier cry out, “Medic, help me! Help me!” Then the same soldier cries, “Help me, Lord!”
Doss’ face suddenly sets with determination. He says, “Alright,” and goes after that man…and then another…and then another. He ended up saving the lives of 75 men that day, and was the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
We don’t always know what God wants of us, do we? We can’t always hear His voice or understand the situation we’re in.
And in those moments, we have a choice. We can say, “God’s not talking to me,” and shrug our shoulders. OR we can recognize God calling out to us through the voices of our neighbors, say, “Alright,” and get to work.
Personally, I would prefer God speak to me audibly. I wish He would text me, call me, sit down over lunch with a bulleted list of the things He wants me to do.
But instead, I usually see Him pointing the way through the needs of those around me. I see friends who could use a text or phone call, neighbors who could use me doubling my dinner recipe and dropping a dish at their front door.
I see laundry that could use folding at my daughter’s school, a small business that could use my support, that person in line at the grocery store who could use an encouraging word. Heck, I see acquaintances on social media whose entire day would be made by one kind comment.
Matthew 25:37-40 says, “‘Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’”
If you’re at a loss understanding your calling, start there. Don’t miss the voice of God calling just because He’s calling through someone else.
