Christian Bookworm

The Calling by Deborah Hodge, is a novel of hope, redemption and second chances. Growing up a preacher’s daughter, Cate saw the ugly side of ministry when Christians don’t always act like Christians should and is determined to never be a pastor’s wife. This leads her to abandon her relationship with David, the youth pastor at her dad’s church, and marry a man who also seems to share her beliefs but is not called to be a pastor.

Cate soon realizes however, that the man she married does not share her beliefs, and soon begins to ridicule her for them. During this time Cate has begun to go back to church and rededicates her life to Jesus. She also knows she needs to do something about her marriage, but when she sits down to discuss their relationship with her husband, he drops a bombshell on her. He has decided that since Cate is no fun, he is leaving her for a mutual friend. Cate falls into a deep depression and only through the intervention of a friend and the care and love of her parents helps her to climb out of the pit she has fallen into.

As she begins her new life, she is determined to follow God’s leading in all things, and eventuallly that path leads her back to David, the man she ran from in her past. Working together as friends in the mission field gives them time to get to know the individuals they have become.

I have to say that I enjoyed reading The Calling, although parts of it were painful. I think we all have known people or been hurt by people who profess to be Christians but don’t act how Christ wants us to. People who, although we are admonished by Jesus not to judge others, judge anyway based sometimes on rules or rituals or ignorance. Cate has to deal with these situations not only as a child, but also as an adult. I once heard a pastor say that Christians can be meanest to other Christians.

In the end, although I won’t say what the end is, Cate determines that even if it means the loss of what she wants, she will follow God’s calling. Can we all say that? Are we willing to give up what we want in order to submit to God’s plan for our life? Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”

How have you followed God’s call in your life?