Reflecting on Vocation: “Am I Called?”

[This the first of three reflections offered at the Vocations Day 2012 in the Diocese of London, Willesden Episcopal Area. It was hosted at St Mary's Ealing and offered people the opportunity to come and explore various ministries being undertaken in the church and wider community]

Do we all have a calling that is God-given? Or is it simply the case that some people have it and others don’t? You know, like some people can whistle but others just can’t. And surely vocation is for holy or extraordinary individuals – revolutionaries, nuns, monks sportsman and famous artists. What’s more, how do you know if you have a calling? By that I mean, how do really know that your life has a purpose; that God has created you to do something specific?

Well, if you will indulge me for moment, I’d like to ask that you to close your eyes and keep them shut. Let’s imagine that all of your essential needs have been met. You have all the money you could ever need, you have found the love of your life and you have a growing circle of good friends.  Now, what changes would you make to your life and how are you going to spend the time you have left? Keep your eyes closed as you take a minute to really think about this. (Pause) You could be seeing yourself living it up on an exotic island or travelling in luxury or writing that book at last or starting a family. But now ask yourself this question: “What is God inviting you to do?” (Pause) 

Please open your eyes. You may well have found that this imaginative experience become quite different when you shifted to listening to God? One way of trying to understand vocation is this – it’s a process in which you are in conversation with God about your passions, talents and deepest desires. I’m sure we all agree that every human being has passions, talents and deep desires. But they are mostly ignored or even forgotten. This cluster of emotions and instinctive drives become much more obvious to us when we give ourselves the freedom to ask “What if?”   

Still, it can be very confusing when you are trying to understand how these should be  used or given shape in daily living. Alternatively, some of these impulses can be quite threatening and leave us feeling suspicious. That’s because from a very young age, we are directed to become productive citizens, to make a living and to retire in some comfort.  The message, conscious or otherwise, is this: “Here are the ingredients of success and if you get the balance just right, you will be happy.”

But as soon as we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, we steadily have the awakening that a life in God is expanding our horizons. Job titles, qualifications and 5-year plans begin to feel somewhat claustrophobic. We start to sense that there is more; more depth, more authenticity, more meaning than what have been given.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
   and are acquainted with all my ways.  

                                            Psalm 139: 1-3

The psalmist here describes a radical intimacy with God that includes paths being searched out and ways being made known. When we invite God to influence our lifestyle, choices and destiny, we have already started working out our vocation. Whether we like it or not the conversation has began. Perhaps now, we are simply becoming conscious of it.

This morning we can only be open to the work of the Holy Spirit. You cannot know how God will influence the conversation you are already having about your vocation, but rather like a very young Samuel in the temple you can pray “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Let us pray

A Prayer for Discernment

Lord I know that You love me and that You have great plans for me.
But sometimes I am overwhelmed by the thought of my future.

Show me how to walk forward one day at a time.
as I explore the various options which lie before me,

Help me to listen openly to others,
and to pay attention to what is in the depth of my own heart.

In this way, may I hear Your call to a way of life
which will allow me to love as only I can,

and allow me to serve others with the special gifts You have given me.

Amen.