Carmen Kulig
Called and Gifted
Participating in Called and Gifted had been a goal of mine and last fall I committed and enrolled. I fully enjoyed working with a group of people towards a common, faith-based purpose. After our sessions I felt energized by the discussions, the support and work we were achieving as a group. Especially when the discernment process started, there was ample collaboration, listening and learning from each other.
Called and Gifted, a “powerful discernment process, helps Christians recognize the charisms — spiritual gifts — they’ve been given not just for their own sake, but to represent Christ and be channels of God’s goodness for others” (Catherine of Siena Institute).
“Why does it matter if we discover our gifts, can’t we just do good things for others that we enjoy?” Someone asked this pragmatic question near the midpoint of our sessions. On its exterior, it seems a superfluous question. Of course, we should discover our gifts. That is why we signed up for Called and Gifted! Ten sessions and we will be enlightened with knowledge and serve the Lord. Time to “lock in” and get started!
The first sessions were didactic in nature — we discovered the currently endorsed gifts and the saints and leaders who personified them. Most of us felt we had routine lives in which saintly greatness was unlikely a reasonable goal. We received advice that if we sometimes say to ourselves “Well that’s kind of weird but I do this in this situation,” it may be a signal in which to lend some attention.
Weird is a word often associated with negative connotations, so initially I minimized this advice. However, as our discussions evolved and we shared struggles and ruminations, this word came up quite frequently. We would relay a story and the word “weird” would unconsciously come through. Others would see evidence of our gifts in ways we may not have on our own.
As we were grappling with the subtleties of the different gifts, the “why does this matter” question did resonate. Discernment was a unique challenge. Trying to reason through the minutiae led to more questions.
Why does it matter if my gift is teaching or knowledge? Aren’t these gifts complimentary? Don’t you need mercy to serve? If you sing well, how can it be that it is a talent but not a gift of the Holy Spirit? There were times I was certainly feeling it would be easier to just do good things for others and keep it simple.
The answer, revealed through our discussions, was straightforward: If you have gifts of the Holy Spirit and are not using them to your fullest abilities then you are missing opportunities to serve. Prayerfully trying to discern and respond to your call is your “fiat” to the request/gifts bestowed on you.
The purpose of these gifts is to share them with others and, by doing so, become Jesus’ hands and feet. Keeping it simple is not dismissing your unique gifts because it is a struggle to discern them. Keeping it simple is prayerfully moving through the process. It is to provide energy towards the trial-and-error journey. It is thriving when what was originally “weird” has become a fully energizing, personal means to share God’s love with others.
It is now the following summer. I have noticed that it feels comfortable once I fully embrace my gifts and say “yes” to my natural tendencies to serve. It is calming when the opportunities arise to not overthink or worry about whether I should act or not. I have now realized this is what I can and should do.
(Carmen Kulig has been a member of St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf since she and her family moved to the Quad Cities area in 2008.)
Called and gifted starts Sept. 8
The next Called and Gifted nine-session workshop will start Sept. 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf and conclude Dec. 1. The $50 cost covers all course materials and a personal gifts interview led by parishioners trained by Catherine of Siena Institute. Contact Maureen Conrad at iowaconrads@yahoo.com or call 563-940-5921 for more information.
