In 1998, New York firefighter Timothy Stackpole rushed into a building fire and was terribly burned. For some time, his life hung in the balance. After many surgeries and extensive therapy, he finally returned to work.
In August of 2001, his superior officers offered him a desk job or an early retirement because the accident had lessened his mobility. After several meetings in which they tried to persuade him, Timothy kindly but firmly replied, “I have to go back. It is my calling to be a fireman.”
A month later when the Twin Towers were smoldering after the collision of two planes, Stackpole was one of many first responders who went in to save lives, but never returned. He did so because of his calling. Stackpole felt called, but How does God call you?