Find Your Calling Series: Drop the Key and Take a Risk

Comparably, a sloth was more active in a given week than my time in Sweden several years ago. Relaxing in the park, renting movies, and sleeping until 11:00 am filled my vacation time. I had no imminent responsibilities, no people to phone, and zero emails to send. British Airways had errantly sent my luggage to the Middle East, so I went on a shopping spree for new clothes.

My friend and I did have one small task before us to accomplish. We needed to buy a ferry ticket from Sweden to Denmark en route to Norway. Two friends were eagerly waiting for us in Kristiansand and needed to know when we arrived. Yet, my travel mate and I incessantly procrastinated. Our full schedule of idleness was taking up all of our time.

Part of the reason we didn’t commit to leaving was because of the apartment key. The owner had instructed us to drop the key into his mailbox once we left. This meant that we couldn’t get it back because it was a locked box. In other words, when we placed it through the narrow metal slit, we had to leave for Norway. Dropping the key meant that no matter what happened from that point forward, there was no turning back.

Adventure Awaits After You Drop the Key

Like dropping the key, you must let go of things (or people) to move forward to fulfill your calling. The future we want won’t arrive if we clutch onto a current way of life that holds us back. For example, getting the relationship you really want could mean letting go of the toxic one you’re in now. Or, moving forward might mean leaving a good-paying but an average job for one that pays less but that you’re passionate about. Manifesting your destiny requires you to put your reputation on the line and jilt man’s approval. If you want to find out what God designed you to do in life, you have to take a risk. The safe zone is the enemy of personal and vocational progress.

After my friend finally dropped the key into the mailbox, we experienced an unexpected and exciting adventure that we still laugh about today. It began the instant we stepped out the front door. To our shock, the tram line was under construction. We had to run to the nearest bus station to try to find another route to the ferry dock. Steeped in laughter and the incredulity of our procrastination, we finally arrived at the ticket counter out of breath. But we missed it. Then, two hours later, we almost missed the next boat. Once we made it to Denmark, we missed the final train of the night by mere seconds.

Then my friend miraculously found several Danish kroner lying on the train tracks. It was a Godsend because we were almost out of money. A kind off-duty taxi driver finally drove us to the dock for our ferry to Norway.

We made it to our destination in Norway. But that wasn’t the best gift. The real gift was the crazy story we took from that day. That wouldn’t have happened if we held onto the key and played it safe.

What’s Your Key You Need to Drop?

When you drop the key, it means that you are ready to leave your safe zone, embrace the problems that ensue, and sprint toward what is ahead. You can’t hang onto your past and embrace the future at the same time. Let go of your mistakes and focus on what will be. Great endeavors cannot be accomplished within the status quo. At some point, you must throw caution into the wind, smash stasis, and go for it.

The risk of failure will always be present. But wouldn’t you rather fall and stumble in search of your dreams than never start at all? You can bet that people will murmur behind your back that you’re insensible. Or, they’ll quip that you need to be more cautious. Questions from your family will beset you. Critics will glare at your new endeavor with askance as you spend money to start a new business or incorporate a new nonprofit. The biggest enemy, however, will be yourself: the fear of failure. One woman told me that I was immature and acting like “Peter Pan” when I told her I wanted to do overseas missions.

The problem is that our calling often resides behind the door labeled Risk Lies Ahead. We think we can play it safe to find our vocation. But the most meaningful things we endeavor to do won’t be found by swimming in the kid’s end of the pool. True adventures only happen when there’s danger is involved and when we dive deeper.

One Step of Faith at a Time

Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God often doesn’t give us the big picture of our lives. Instead, He asks us to take a step of faith to embrace our calling. The Bible also says that” Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). Maybe it’s too big of a leap for you to jump into a new career all at once. Yet could you job shadow someone in a field you’d like to explore? Or, why not read a book or two on a new vocation that intrigues you. Start with small steps. The point is to keep going forward.

In 2005, I dropped a huge key and didn’t look back when I went onto the mission field. People thought I was crazy to quit my stable job, sell my house, and raise financial support. I had even already hired my replacement and trained him to do my job. Consequently, there was no returning to that position when I returned.

Danger isn’t optional when finding our calling. God told Noah to build an ark, commanded Abraham to leave for a country he did not know, and told Moses to stand in front of Pharoah to free the Hebrews. When you take risks, unexpected adventures happen. That’s why we love these biblical stories. I also think of heroes like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy or Phileas Fogg in the adventure novel Around the World in Eighty Days. You don’t get the stories to remember without taking risks. I want to tell my grandkids that I left all out on the field for Jesus.

My friend and I dropped the key that day and couldn’t take it back. Our only step was forward after we let it go. That same spirit motivates me today to take risks and keep moving forward in my vocation. When I am tempted to settle for a comfortable and fulfilling life out of fear, God reminds me how I need to exercise faith to please Him and embrace my calling one step at a time.

What’s your key that you need to drop? What do you need to let go of to move forward?