2026: The Four Parts of The Call

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I received my initial Call on August 15, 1972. At first, I believed the Call wanted me to Preach, and that the Preaching was to begin immediately.  At that time, I believed that the Preaching was to be a Christian theme with pronouncements of the Return of the Christ.  However, it was only after my encounter with The Love That Changes Everything that I learned that I was in error.  Indeed, based on my encounter with The Love That Changes Everything, it was clear that it would be many years before I could begin to Preach.

When I returned home from my stay in the hospital, I found waiting for me two large boxes of books.  The boxes contained the fifty-four-volume set of The Great Books of the Western World.  I had entered a nationwide contest to receive the books in June of 1972.  When I returned home in November of 1972, the books were there awaiting me.  I took it as a sign from The Love That Changes Everything that before I could Preach, I needed to Learn and, based on the books that I saw before me, it was evident that it would take me some time to Learn before I could begin to Preach.

So, by November of 1972, it was clear that The Call had two parts to it.  It was clear that I needed to Learn before I could begin to Preach.  To help with the Learning aspect of the Call, I came to the conclusion that I needed to return to Amherst College.  And my return to Amherst College would begin the third aspect of The Call -- The Call to Serve.