The call

I hear from time to time people discussing whether a person is "called" into the ministry or if they just enjoy it. If they are filled with the gifts naturally or supernaturally. I don't have all the answers to that, but I can speak for myself.
As a young boy I always wanted to be a youth pastor. Todd Carr was my youth pastor and I had always looked up to him. Before him, David Beachamp was my pastor and I had looked up to him.(I must confess I still lean on both of them for guidance even to this day) I wanted to be like them, I wanted to experience the things that they did and I wanted to be them in a sense. As I grew older and got into high school I was given an opportunity to work with the young boys in our church on Wednesday nights and then, I had a chance to do something with the middle schoolers and eventually the whole youth group. I loved every minute of it, but there came a time where I knew it.
Todd invited me along to speak at a youth conference called "Super Summer" in Lake Yale, FLorida. We arrived like a normal summer camp week was about to happen, we had a lot of fun, I got to speak to the middle schoolers and it was moving. But, on the next to last night there was something that overcame me, a feeling of needing to go down during the altar call. Interestingly enough I did it, and dedicated my life to being in the ministry, and accepted the call as they say. From that point on there have been countless opportunities to go in other directions but always the path has lead to ministry.
Paul talked about this a little in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 16 :Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
You can't really boast about being a pastor or if the day ever comes I can't boast about being good at it because it isn't natural. I can't say that I woke up one day and started working hard at it, I was moved by God, designed by God for this specific service. I also, must preach, and teach because that is what I was called to do. My secular job is killing me, I'll admit that because here I am talking to all these people, all these students and kids and unable to share the Gospel. But, the feeling of wanting to never leaves my body. On days when I am in classrooms all day, that urge to just blow their minds and talk about the Gospel is there and stronger each time, but I can't, because if I do I'll not have a place to speak. If I don't have a place to speak, I can't feed my family and so on. So I go on, in the secular world for now knowing that on WEdensday nights, Thursday nights and Friday nights I get to share the Gospel. Then, on Sundays I get to do it again so I can't complain too much.
So I hope this helps you understand the "call" on teh lives of pastors and preachers. That is why they are the way they are, they are compelled to be as Paul puts it, it's not optional at all.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!