The Rev. Richard T. Lawson III joins the us to reflect on vocation, discernment, and his election as Bishop of Alabama.After 25 years in parish ministry, he didn’t initially imagine himself called to this role. Over time, that began to change through the encouragement of clergy, friends, and family, along with trusted voices who helped him see that calling does not always arrive as certainty.The conversation centers on how deeply this call is tied to Alabama as home. Richard describes the emotional weight of returning to the diocese, reconnecting with family, and stepping into a ministry that feels both personal and vocational. He also reflects on the public vulnerability of the discernment and election process, especially while serving a parish he loved, and the trust it required from both him and his congregation.As the discussion unfolds, Richard speaks about what he is learning from moving across the diocese and encountering churches of very different sizes and contexts. He describes this as a powerful reminder of the many ways the Holy Spirit is at work.The episode closes with a broader reflection on vocation itself: that discernment begins with listening, that no calling is too small, and that God’s direction is often revealed not only through theology and prayer, but also through family, memory, desire, and the quieter currents of a person’s life.Prayer for Mission (Morning Prayer, the Book of Common Prayer, pg 100)Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole  body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.Links mentioned in this episode:- The Rev. Richard T. Lawson III (https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/02/02/alabama-elects-richard-t-lawson-iii-its-13th-bishop)- Check us out on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@biblelovepodcast