I have shared before that I’m skeptical about things like callings. I am not sure that my life has a monolithic purpose that’s getting me out of bed every single day. But I know I have certain affinities (cats, Star Trek) and certain instincts (eating all the carbs because winter is coming, suddenly and inconveniently remembering that one time twenty years ago I said that awkward thing and they all probably still hate me).

I was in a board meeting at my (public!) college a couple months ago, and one of the board members read from Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” He said that whether we believe in a Higher Power or not, these are the principles that ought to be guiding us as leaders in education. This is the “how” and the “why” of what we do. I don’t think he’s wrong. 

Although I have long since given up the habit of daily scripture study, the Standard Works, at this point, are hardwired. So as I was in the meeting, I began thinking about those corollaries to the fruit of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit in 1Corinthians 12 and D&C 46. Often, when Joseph Smith produces scripture (however you believe that process worked), and he’s working from or with a Biblical source text, the end result doesn’t add much to the source. There are even places in LDS scripture that, in my view, weaken, flatten, muddy, or otherwise lessen the Biblical message. Having said that, I find D&C 46 to be thought-provoking exegesis and expansion on the New Testament text. There’s a lot there to chew on.

At one point in the section, the discussion turns to bishops:

27 And unto the bishop of the church, and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church, are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God.

This is grandiose stuff. I happen to know there are many former and even some current bishops in our reading and commenting audience, as well as many, many elders. I’d love to know if you felt like any of this happened for you. Were you able to discern others’ gifts? And could you tell when people’s professions or expressions of their gifts were less than godly? (Despite what you may be tempted to read into my tone, the questions are sincere.)

What I’m most interested in though, in verse 27, is a phrase that doesn’t get called out explicitly as a gift at all: “watch over.”

While scripture doesn’t name this a gift, I think that, done right, it really is. This isn’t surveilling or policing we are talking about. Big Brother is a perversion of the gift or instinct I’m trying to wrap my head around in this post.

I am, though, and have been since before I can remember, a big sister. I have always felt an instinct to watch out for and watch over others—not to make sure they’re staying in line (although sometimes it’s that), but to make sure they know that they are seen.

In my current professional role, I supervise nearly two hundred people, who in turn teach or work with thousands of students each semester. The work they do is a privilege, but it’s also the kind of work that will take everything you give it and demand more. The instinct to watch over my people, to pay attention, to let them know that I see them, that I’m here to lean on when they need me, is strong. 

In other words, I think I have a pastoral instinct.

What about you? Have you got a pastoral instinct? How does it manifest itself?

How do you feel about the fruits and gifts of the Spirit? Do you think you have to be a religious or even a spiritual person to appreciate and cultivate them? (Aside: Many of the folks I work with are avowed atheists who nonetheless acknowledge a spiritual [their word] dimension to our work.)

How do you honor your own gifts?

Discuss.