I read a thoughtful article over on a blog I follow called Facebook Apostles.  The article helped briefly to define our motivation for serving:  ego or calling.  I was struck by the last bullet point:  “Ego wants to preserve the self.  Calling wants to impact others.”  I am discovering this difference for myself now.  Ego will fight to survive and maintain “face”;  calling will fight for another at the cost of self.  But I think it goes a step further.  Following a calling, as opposed to responding to ego, will help to define (or re-define) the self.  With a calling you are aware that there will be risks even though you aren’t certain what those risks are.  And yet you move forward nonetheless.  Take a look at that article here.