Tell about a time when you felt small or insignificant and something happened and you grew and experienced joy? How did that change happen? How did your relationship with God change? How did your view of God and yourself get larger
In the Gospel of Luke (1:46b-55), Luke writes that an overjoyed Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”

Recently, when I was meeting with two colleagues, the conversation shifted outside my area of expertise. I felt like they were speaking a different language! I went from feeling confident to feeling insignificant. In that small moment, a split-second decision presented itself to me. The decision was between fear and surrender.

In the past, there have been plenty of times when I felt anxious and afraid when I was out of my depth in a meeting. In those situations, it was hard to focus, and I felt tense. The discussion felt awkward. I felt alone.

This time, when self-doubt came over me, I was intentional to surrender. Immediately, I felt at ease. I was able to listen intently and questions flowed easily. It became apparent that we were all learning together. Allowing the mystery of the moment to unfold fostered a relaxed environment. There was wonderful discussion and exchange of ideas. We all felt that we could count on one another.

With God at the helm, I am grounded in a flow of being and I am able to serve-out my purpose. To magnify God in my life takes time (it actually takes a lot of time!). I need to prioritize daily worship. I need time for rest, stillness, and reflection in my daily schedule. When I make space for God to be central, it comes easy to surrender and allow God to continually work in my life. When I magnify God, I am an effective minister of God in the world.
Tegan is a parishioner of Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver.