Short reflection about sense of calling. Rev. Serena Tajima 

I think from the age of about fourteen or fifteen the idea of maybe being a priest popped into my head. I’m not sure where it came from, but it was something I thought I may one day do, but when I was much older. When I was about seventeen or eighteen, I went to Taize and again this thought came back and I considered it a bit more seriously, but again I thought not until I’m much older.

After completing my degree, going off and becoming cabin crew and then finishing my master's in building Conservation, I started to wonder what next. Someone asked me what my dream job would be, and I genuinely didn’t know what to say. One day around Easter time I was singing in my church choir and sitting in the choir stalls during the prayers and a voice that seemed to come from behind me said, ‘I want you to be a priest!’ There wasn’t anyone behind me and the voice didn’t come from my head, I heard it! I didn’t really know what to do, so I did nothing. A couple of weeks later I was helping at church again but this time as a server and as I was walking into the vestry the voice came back and said, ‘you need to tell someone!’ As I turned one of our associate priests called Terrie walked through the door and she looked at me and asked, are you ok? I said I think God wants me to be a priest! At that moment I burst into tears as it felt like my calling from God was real and felt pretty overwhelming. However, since that moment and now, I can see how many blessings have come upon my life when I trusted in God’s call on me. Like a good shepherd God has provided for me in so many ways and helps me believe that goodness and loving mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.