Dear Reader,

Have you ever felt clear about something you were being called to do, only to discover that someone else couldn't understand why you would choose that path?

It can catch you off guard, especially when you've spent time listening to Spirit and feel at peace with your decision. You might expect others to share your excitement, or at least be curious about what led you there. But sometimes their response is very different from what you imagined.

In this week's ALIGNED, I want to share an experience from about 15 years ago that reminded me that being clear about our calling doesn't necessarily mean the path ahead will be easy.

Now let's get ALIGNED...

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Inspirational Quote

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The Story

About 15 years ago, I was at a gay bar in the Castro district of San Francisco when I struck up a conversation with a man. We were having a nice time getting to know each other, and at some point, he asked me what I did.

I told him I was preparing to go to the seminary.

I was excited about this next chapter of my life, so I expected he might be curious about why I wanted to pursue ministry or what had led me to that decision. Instead, his demeanor completely changed.

"Why are you going to sleep with the enemy?" he asked.

I was shocked. That was certainly not the response I was expecting, especially when I was sharing something that meant so much to me.

He went on to explain how much harm religion had caused the LGBTQ+ community and why he couldn't understand how I, as a gay man, would willingly become part of something that had caused so much pain.

As surprised as I was by his reaction, I wanted to listen. I wanted to understand where he was coming from, because I knew his feelings weren't coming out of nowhere. There was real pain behind what he was saying, and I wasn't interested in dismissing his experience or convincing him that he was wrong.

Rather than making me question my decision to attend seminary, our conversation strengthened my resolve. I remember thinking that this was exactly why I needed to go. I wanted to understand how religion and the Bible had been used to hurt people, particularly LGBTQ+ people, and how I might help challenge the beliefs and interpretations that had caused that harm.

I walked away from that conversation knowing that the path ahead might not be easy. But I also felt even more certain that seminary was where I needed to be.

Over the years, I've met many LGBTQ+ people who carried similar pain from their experiences with religion, along with others whose experiences were very different. And I'm glad I followed through with seminary, because it's given me opportunities to speak with people in different settings who have been hurt by religion. That conversation in the Castro has stayed with me because it brought me face-to-face with the very pain I felt called to address.

The Spiritual Lesson

Looking back, that conversation reminds me that being clear about our calling doesn't mean we fully understand what following it will involve.

I knew Spirit was leading me toward seminary, and I already had a sense of the work I wanted to do. But hearing that man's experience brought me closer to the reality of why that work mattered. His perspective was different from mine, and I needed to hear it.

I think this is an important part of spiritual discernment that we sometimes overlook. Listening to Spirit doesn't mean closing ourselves off to people who question our direction. Their experiences may have something to teach us, even when we're clear about the path we're taking.

There's a difference between being open to what someone has to say and giving them authority over what we know is ours to do.

I believe Spirit is always communicating with us, and sometimes that communication comes through people and experiences we wouldn't have expected. We may already know the next step we're being called to take, but our understanding of its purpose can continue to deepen as we move forward.

And perhaps that's part of what it means to live in alignment with Spirit. We trust the guidance we've received while remaining open to what we still have to learn along the way.

Your Call to Action

As you move through this week, I invite you to think about something Spirit has been calling you toward, especially if others haven't quite understood your decision.

Rather than focusing on whether they agree with you, consider what their perspectives might help you understand about the path you're taking. Is there something in their experience that you haven't fully considered?

And perhaps ask yourself: What might I still have to learn about the purpose of my calling as I continue to follow it?

May you trust where Spirit is leading you, remain open to what others have to teach you, and discover a deeper understanding of what's yours to do.

Abundant Blessings and Namaste.

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Abundant Good News and Notes

A Little Story Time: This week's ALIGNED was inspired by a recent Story Time video I shared about an unexpected conversation I had at a gay bar in San Francisco some 15 years ago. If you'd like to hear me tell the story, you can click the image above or watch the video here. And I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, especially if you've ever felt called toward something that others didn't quite understand.

One-on-One Coaching: When you feel Spirit calling you toward something but aren't sure how to navigate the questions or concerns that come with it, having someone to talk it through with can make a difference. That's something we can explore together in one-on-one coaching. If this resonates with where you are right now, hit reply and let's talk.

Thanks for reading ALIGNED!

If you have any questions or want to share what you thought about this newsletter, hit reply and let me know.

Abundant Blessings,
​Joselito Laudencia

Spiritual Teacher and Coach
Author, The Creative Impulse: Answering the Highest Calling of Your Heart​
​www.abundantgood.com​

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