--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are not called by God to do…" description: "\"“We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. ”\" — Jean Vanier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/jean-vanier-3367_called-by-god_we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordi_1049111.png" --- # We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but… ![“We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.” quote by Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/jean-vanier-3367_called-by-god_we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordi_1049111.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/jean-vanier-3367_called-by-god_we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordi_1049111.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/jean-vanier-3367_called-by-god_we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordi_1049111.png) > ““We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. ”” [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ordinary tasks become meaningful when performed with deep love and compassion. **In simple terms:** Love turns everyday work into something special. Key Takeaway Serve with love in daily life. Themes service compassion humility purpose Mood inspirational reflective Type moral spiritual When to use this quote - volunteering - caregiving - teaching - family chores - community work Key Concepts Christian ethics selfless love ordinary heroism Questions to Reflect On - How can you infuse love into routine tasks? - What barriers prevent you from loving your work? A Different Perspective Love alone may not solve systemic problems; structural change also needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called by god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-by-god/) [Extraordinary love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary-love/) [Extraordinary things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary-things/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-extraordinary-403337/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Ordinary love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-love/) [Ordinary things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-things/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Things Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-extraordinary-772366/) [Things Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-ordinary-295453/) ## Related quotes > [“ordinary things with extraordinary love,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/ordinary-things-with-extraordinary-love/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-ordinary-things-with-extraordinary-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true call of a Christian is not to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-call-of-a-christian-is-not-to-do-extraordinary-things-but-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She wrapped her arms around him. "If you take away my wealth and my name, I'm nothing more than an ordinary woman in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jagears/she-wrapped-her-arms-around-him-if-you-take-away-my-wealth-and-my/) [Melissa Jagears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jagears/) > [“Forever is a measure of time used by people who share an ordinary love. Our extraordinary love is immeasurable...for us, forever just won’t do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/forever-is-a-measure-of-time-used-by-people-who-share-an-ordinary/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Ordinary people have extraordinary love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-walker/ordinary-people-have-extraordinary-love/) [Clay Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-walker/) > [“Community and cooperation . . . Communion is based on some common inner expression of love; it is the recognition of being one body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/community-and-cooperation-communion-is-based-on-some-common-inner/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [“Joseph had regained his composure by now. Evidently, once you accept that your wife slept with God, extraordinary events seem sort of commonplace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/joseph-had-regained-his-composure-by-now-evidently-once-you-accept/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [A Galileo could no more be elected president of the United States than he could be elected Pope of Rome. Both high posts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-galileo-could-no-more-be-elected-president-of-the-united-states/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The further I wake into this life, the more I realize that God is everywhere and the extraordinary is waiting quietly beneath the skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/the-further-i-wake-into-this-life-the-more-i-realize-that-god-is/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [Sometimes I have experienced God in extraordinary ways - in dramatic surprises or soul-expanding insights or unexplainable mystical encounters. More often, I have felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/sometimes-i-have-experienced-god-in-extraordinary-ways-in-dramatic/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [The person healed has an obligation to then ask why— to meditate on God's will, and the extraordinary lengths to which God has gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-person-healed-has-an-obligation-to-then-ask-why-to-meditate-on/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [God's extraordinary work is most often done by ordinary people in the seeming obscurity of a home and family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/god-s-extraordinary-work-is-most-often-done-by-ordinary-people-in-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Communicating with God is the most extraordinary experience imaginable, yet at the same time it's the most natural one of all, because God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/communicating-with-god-is-the-most-extraordinary-experience/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [No man can come to God but by an extraordinary revelation of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/no-man-can-come-to-god-but-by-an-extraordinary-revelation-of-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## More by Jean Vanier > [When we start helping the weak and the poor to rise everyone will begin to change. Those who have power and riches will start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/when-we-start-helping-the-weak-and-the-poor-to-rise-everyone-will/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [...Individualistic material progress and the desire to gain prestige by coming out on top have taken over from the sense of fellowship, compassion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/individualistic-material-progress-and-the-desire-to-gain-prestige-by/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [To invite others to live with us is a sign that we aren't afraid, that we have a treasure of truth and of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/to-invite-others-to-live-with-us-is-a-sign-that-we-aren-t-afraid-that/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [People are longing to rediscover true community. We have had enough of loneliness, independence and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/people-are-longing-to-rediscover-true-community-we-have-had-enough-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [The person in misery does not need a look that judges and criticizes but a comforting presence that brings peace and hope and life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/the-person-in-misery-does-not-need-a-look-that-judges-and-criticizes/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [All of us have a secret desire to be seen as saints, heroes, martyrs. We are afraid to be children, to be ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/all-of-us-have-a-secret-desire-to-be-seen-as-saints-heroes-martyrs-we/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [To be free is to put justice, truth and service to others over and above our personal gain or our need for recognition, power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/to-be-free-is-to-put-justice-truth-and-service-to-others-over-and/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [If we love (the poor) people, we want to identify with them and share with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/if-we-love-the-poor-people-we-want-to-identify-with-them-and-share/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [“Sympathies and antipathies . . . Human friendships can very quickly become a club of mediocrities, enclosed in mutual flattery and approval, preventing people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/sympathies-and-antipathies-human-friendships-can-very-quickly-become/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [A community is only a community when the majority of its members are making the transition from 'the community for myself' to 'myself for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/a-community-is-only-a-community-when-the-majority-of-its-members-are/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [Each person is sacred, no matter what his or her culture, religion, handicap, or fragility. Each person is created in God’s image; each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/each-person-is-sacred-no-matter-what-his-or-her-culture-religion/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [But let us not put our sights too high. We do not have to be saviours of the world! We are simply human beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/but-let-us-not-put-our-sights-too-high-we-do-not-have-to-be-saviours/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [Each human being, however small or weak, has something to bring to humanity. As we start to really get to know others, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/each-human-being-however-small-or-weak-has-something-to-bring-to/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [“Have patience . . . We are not the masters of our own feelings of attraction or revulsion; these come from places in ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/have-patience-we-are-not-the-masters-of-our-own-feelings-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [The people with the best sense of what is essential to a community, of what gives and maintains its spirit, are often doing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/the-people-with-the-best-sense-of-what-is-essential-to-a-community-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) [Explore all 132 Jean Vanier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) ## More Called by god quotes > [“If we choose to be distracted by the scores of things around us we may find ourselves either backsliding in our walks, or remaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/if-we-choose-to-be-distracted-by-the-scores-of-things-around-us-we/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) > [I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/i-want-you-to-just-let-a-wave-of-intolerance-wash-over-you-i-want-you/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [Each one of us has some kind of vocation. We are all called by God to share in His life and in His Kingdom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/each-one-of-us-has-some-kind-of-vocation-we-are-all-called-by-god-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Some people are given a great gift of not caring what others think or about anything but being faithful to what they’re called by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fabry/some-people-are-given-a-great-gift-of-not-caring-what-others-think-or/) [Chris Fabry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fabry/) > [Many people don't understand the difference between a vocation and your own idea about something. A vocation is a call-one you don't necessarily want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-hart/many-people-don-t-understand-the-difference-between-a-vocation-and/) [Dolores Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-hart/) > [In the Bible, ordination - I don't see that in the Scripture. In the Bible, it's whether you're filled with the Holy Spirit, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/in-the-bible-ordination-i-don-t-see-that-in-the-scripture-in-the/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [I think theres just this mystique of writing a book that appeals to people. A person has to really check their motives and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-think-theres-just-this-mystique-of-writing-a-book-that-appeals-to/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Calling is not only a matter of being and doing what we are but also of becoming what we are not yet but are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/calling-is-not-only-a-matter-of-being-and-doing-what-we-are-but-also/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [“APOSTLE AMONG THE GENTILES (NATIONS) As we have seen, Paul’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus led him to the deep conviction that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-gorman/apostle-among-the-gentiles-nations-as-we-have-seen-paul-s-encounter/) [Michael J. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-gorman/) > [When you're called by God, when He places that call upon your life, there is an authority you begin to walk in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-roberts/when-you-re-called-by-god-when-he-places-that-call-upon-your-life/) [Sam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-roberts/) > [At first we feel called by God and attracted by him. We grow in our vocation and get the impression that God has gripped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/notker-wolf/at-first-we-feel-called-by-god-and-attracted-by-him-we-grow-in-our/) [Notker Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/notker-wolf/) > [“As we go to the places where we are called by God—sometimes gladly, sometimes reluctantly, always in anxiety—we are drawn into the newness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/as-we-go-to-the-places-where-we-are-called-by-god-sometimes-gladly/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“Keeping a new church outwardly focused from the beginning is much easier than trying to refocus an inwardly concerned church. In order to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-searcy/keeping-a-new-church-outwardly-focused-from-the-beginning-is-much/) [Nelson Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-searcy/) > [Since God alone provides the means for the successful accomplishment of any task, it seems evident that a person needs to be called by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-moreau/since-god-alone-provides-the-means-for-the-successful-accomplishment/) [Basil Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-moreau/) > [Thus, when you wake up in the morning, called by God to be a self again, if you want to know who you are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/thus-when-you-wake-up-in-the-morning-called-by-god-to-be-a-self-again/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) [Browse all 32 Called by god quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-by-god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Vanier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordinary-things-but-to-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Called by god" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordinary-things-but-to-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/jean-vanier-3367_called-by-god_we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordi_1049111.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/jean-vanier-3367_called-by-god_we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordi_1049111.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/jean-vanier-3367_called-by-god_we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordi_1049111.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.” — Jean Vanier", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean Vanier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We are not called by God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordinary-things-but-to-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/we-are-not-called-by-god-to-do-extraordinary-things-but-to-do/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```