URC Daily Devotion Wednesday 8th July 2026

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s [of Samaria] testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’  So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word.  They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’
 
Reflection
 
Vocation is, by its nature, a deeply personal experience.  It is the outcome of being known.  A kind of unveiling of the inner self.  As the woman from Samaria, says: “He told me everything I have ever done.” I wonder if we often mistake the discernment of vocation as realising we have a particular skill or ability.  But if we take the woman from Samaria as our example, vocation is a more fragile process. One that involves a joyful, and at times disconcerting, sense of vulnerability.
 
My own call found its genesis in a particular experience as a teenager.  I was walking home after a confirmation class when I felt a deep sense that I would be a minister.  This awareness was only the beginning. My vocation had to be shaped through many experiences of triumph and failure, anguish and hope, faith and doubt, which revealed how Christ sees me, and gave me a clearer knowledge of myself.
 
It can be tempting to see vocation as relating merely to roles: Elder, Lay Preacher, Church Related Community Worker, Evangelist or Minister of Word and Sacraments.  I think this is misguided. Our first vocation is to be a disciple, and all other vocations flow from this and return to it. I find a sense of freedom in this reality, as it opens up the possibility that we can change and even find our way again after taking a wrong turn.
 
Ultimately, when we locate vocation in being known by Christ (and knowing ourselves), rather than merely in role or ability, we open ourselves to the possibility that we may be called even when we do not feel we have the skills, resources or character required.  The much-maligned woman from Samaria,  who was the first evangelist, offered a transformative message that was as simple as “He told me everything I have ever done.” This is a vocation grounded in discipleship, rooted in being known, and expressed through vulnerability.
 
Prayer Practice
 
Take a short walk and commit the time to prayer.
As you walk, open yourself to the sights and sounds around you.
At this stage, the only task is to pay attention, allowing yourself to become centred in the experience.
Then imagine Christ walking alongside you.
Ask a question about vocation, such as, “What are you calling me to?”
Listen.
If you do not experience anything, do not worry or become frustrated; simply enjoy your walk.
You may wish to use this for discernment and regularly practice it.