I heard another great story last week at a church conference. One of our friends from Great Britain talked about a teacher in their Christian school who lost both of his elderly parents and his elderly in-laws in a short period of time. Afterwards, he came to his pastor and said, “Out of this experience, I think the Lord is really stirring my heart about a ministry with the bereaved. I’d like to take some funerals.” (That’s the British way to say “preach” some funerals.)

The pastor couldn’t imagine a more depressing ministry, but he and the leadership team were happy to bless the teacher and encouraged him to go out and see what he could do.

The teacher came back a little later and said, “Well, I’ve gone to the undertakers and made myself available for families who have no one to conduct their services. But the undertakers tell me they can’t use me unless I’m ordained.”

And the leaders said, “Okay. We’ll ordain you.” And they did.

Now the school teacher has discovered a new calling. He ministers to people who find themselves in desperate need of comfort but who have never met The Comforter.  He is happy as a clam in this unusual ministry. He found the place he fit.

The world might be a better place if we all stepped back, looked around our busy lives, and then said to God and our pastors, “You know, I think I’d like to…”