Thursday, May 13, 2010

Living a Calling

I don't know about you, but sometimes I can get a bit overwhelmed. I just went on a cruise and briefly visited a third world country. It is such a difference and reminds me of how blessed I am. However, I'm only one person so I can't save that country - but what can I do? Yesterday I read from the book Here and Now by Henri Nouwen and the excerpt was on this topic exactly! What a lucky coincidence or sign.

It is easy to get so overwhelmed by all the good that needs to be done - save the poor, care for the sick, educate the uneducated, donate to a gazillion charities and then try to enjoy time with friends and family. How can it all be done? Easy answer - it can't. Henri Nouwen put it just that simply - you can't do it all. Oh the nerve of him to assume I can't give myself to eight charities at once while also going on trips to help communities in Africa which is all very true. That much was easy to accept, but what should I do?

This was the hard part. Be patient and wait to be led to your calling. Discern where you need to be and give your all to that vocation. Not everyone is called to the same vocation so that we can all have an impact where we are instead of all being spread too thin. Problem is, I prayed and prayed and God gave me direction. Yippee! I know what to do - but that was a year ago and I feel lost again. I haven't changed the name of this blog yet even though I'm 25 because I don't know if I will stay with it or if the topic will change slightly. It has already changed because when I started I tried to keep religion out of life issues but without it there just isn't a compelling reason to make sacrifices like caring for a baby when you hadn't planned on it - if only for 9 months until you give it up for adoption.

In any case, I seem to be back in a period of discernment and so I don't get distracted I probably won't post again for a while until I know there is a purpose for it. Hopefully I find/realize something soon because I really don't like working on the virtue of patience ;-)

3 comments:

  1. Good stuff. Maybe God isn't calling you to a different particular vocation, but to a different way of pursuing it? Just a thought! Prayers as you continue to discern, and thanks for inspiring me to do so!

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  2. You're exactly right. I don't really think God is calling me to a different vocation per se, but possibly a different way of living it. However, even if He is not doing that at the moment, I seem a bit too confused to compose meaningful and understandable posts. That being said, I really don't feel this blog is providing the opportunity to live out my calling in the same way it did a year ago so I should stop and think a minute....hopefully I know soon and maybe be back - either way I still enjoy reading your thoughts on your blog :-)

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  3. Insightful and reflective; I appreciate your honesty in this post. Not to mention, it strikes a certain familiar cord with me. Thanks for sharing, dear.

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