Have you ever had an “Eli moment”? You remember the scene from the life of Samuel? The young boy lived in the temple. His mother, Hannah, had given her son to God’s service. He did the bidding of Eli the priest.

The account of First Samuel tells us that the boy Samuel was growing in stature and favor with God and with man. He was becoming an adolescent who sought God.

Then one night, as Samuel lay sleeping. He heard someone call his name, “Samuel”. Thinking it was Eli, he called out “Here I am,” ready to serve his master. However, Eli told him he hadn’t called Samuel. Go back to sleep. A voice calls Samuel’s name a second time, again, the response to Eli, again, it wasn’t me.

Yet the wise priest realizes, perhaps another is calling the boy. Eli instructs Samuel to determine if the voice calling Samuel’s name is the voice of the Lord.

A third time, the voice calls, “Samuel”. This time the boy answers, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel went from confused to called. From wondering who was calling to placing himself in obedient readiness to the call of His Lord.

Several weeks ago, on the campus of NNU, young people, about the age of Samuel gathered for THE CALL. The Call is an event sponsored by NNU and Nazarene Youth International that seeks to come alongside young men and women who are seeking to determine who is calling them, and to what.

Students at The Call Conference

They are in the midst of their Eli moment. Seeking to sort out what God would have them be and do with their lives. The Call is designed to act like Eli, to help young people who sense a certain call of God upon them. Would God want me to serve him as my life’s vocation? Shall I prepare for this by pursuing a call to full-time ministry? Can I serve God best in this capacity or would He have me serve Him in some other role than pastoral ministry?

Sorting out voices is no small thing. It wasn’t for Samuel; it isn’t for these committed young people. We hear the voices of our parents, our pastor, our teacher, our favorite grandparent, our youth pastor, all calling our name. And we wonder, “Is this of the Lord?” The Call is an opportunity to gather and pray and listen and discern who is calling.

In another sense we all have Eli moments. Times in our lives when we seek to know what God would have us do and become. College is filled with “Eli moments”. Young people seeking to know the will of God for their lives. All these young people, so full of promise and passion for life. Seeking to discern God’s call upon their lives.

We have the privilege and responsibility, as the faculty of NNU, to stand alongside these young people and give guidance and provide preparation for life’s journey. Some students go through college with great clarity of purpose. Many, many more wrestle with the fact that a particular job doesn’t seem to be what should guide all of life’s choices. We stand to help them learn the wisdom of being broadly educated, able to solve the problems of life and work, all the while seeking to model lives lived in relationship with God.

Then, in the ripe times, the Eli moment times, we have the privilege of helping lead to an understanding of how best to answer God’s call to life’s opportunities and challenges. This sacred experience is different for every student, yet there is a thread of service that is woven through the spirit of NNU, our faculty and our students. A spirit of those called to serve God in any and all capacities. This spirit of obedience and eagerness to seek and serve Him is captured in the words of Frederick Buechner, in writing on work and vocation when he says, “the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

May God bless all those who listen, hear and answer.