Being called...too bad God doesn't text

This week's theme, for me, has been all about being called.  During class, we have been discussing the call of St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.  Paul was an avid and well taught Jew.  He was a persecutor of the Christian church, and on his way to Damascus he was knocked off his horse by a vision of Jesus. Jesus called Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.  Some things changed about him then. He was baptized as a Christian, he no longer persecuted Christians, he left his home in Jerusalem to travel throughout "the world" to teach the Gentiles. But he was still Paul. He was still a Jew.  He was still the same man, but with a new perspective and a mission.
Today's readings focus on being called.  The Old Testament reading tells the story of Samuel sleeping in the temple, and hearing someone call his name. Finally, upon realizing it is the Lord, he answers, "here I am."
In the Gospel reading, Jesus is calling his disciples.  When Simon comes to him, he gives him a new name, Cephas (Peter).  He is still the same man, but now he has a calling and, eventually, a very strong mission.
What is awesome about all of these stories, is that these people heard and/or saw the the Lord.  Bam! There he was, calling them to be in service to Him. Today's calls aren't always so easy, are they?
How many people do you know that can say, "I saw Jesus, and he said my mission was...." or "Yeah, I was sitting there, and clear as day I heard God say..."? Now, I'm not saying it doesn't happen. It still does, but it is not the rule, it is the exception. However, it is those stories that make us stop and go, "Wait...why haven't I been called to anything important?" How do you know you haven't? Are you listening?
Think about it...would you notice? With everything we have going on in our lives today to distract us from the one thing we should be focused on the most, how would we hear it? We have cell phones, tablets, flat screen tv's, satellite radio, ipods, computers, video games, etc. in our face and blaring in our ears 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Sometimes, I realize that just sitting in my home during the day it can be so loud!  And I don't just mean noise, I mean overall distraction.  We don't hear God calling, because we don't ever stop allowing ourselves to be distracted! When we pray, it is all about us...what we want, what our plan is...how we want God to work in our lives.  That doesn't work.  He isn't going to listen and text you later with an answer.  God isn't going to email you your task.  You have to stop. You have to shut up, and shut out the world around you.  God will speak, he will lead, and if you don't listen, he will find a way to get through, but will you notice?
We should all be praying for God to speak to us and through us. We should be waiting for that call, because it will come.  We may not be called to go out to other countries, or to be another Mother Theresa, but our mission will be just as important, or he wouldn't call us to it. So, listen, and when you hear God call you, answer "Here I am."