Freshman Reflections From Belmont UniversitySample

Day 34 – Vocation I think we often overcomplicate the idea of vocation. We turn vocation into this nebulous concept that is “out there” waiting for us to discover. The path of discovery is often vague and numerous thinkers and writers have equally numerous ideas about what vocation is and how to find it. As a result, many times we look for vocation in all the wrong places. We often think unless we do something spectacular, our lives are more or less meaningless and we missed our sense of vocation. Unless we establish a nonprofit or work toward a cure for a disease, then our lives lack a sense of vocation. We try so desperately to listen for the call to become something “great” that we miss the quiet, but sacred voice of vocation calling to us every day. I think embracing our vocation is less about something we do someday in the future, and more about how well we pay attention in the present moment. Vocation requires that we have eyes to see and ears to hear coupled with the willingness and courage to humbly respond. This is what we see in today’s passages. Three very ordinary people, David—the baby of the family, Mary—an unmarried teenager, and Lydia—a pagan business woman, all willing to listen and respond to the present moment. Even still it might be easy to read these passages and think, “Well, I would too if I had an angel or prophet tell me clearly what I am supposed to do.” While we might never have a divine encounter as Mary did, we can all assume the same approach as she, David and Lydia had. We too can learn to have eyes to see and ears to hear. So what, or rather who is calling in your life? Is it a classmate who needs help studying for a subject you excel in? Maybe your professor is worn out and in need of a simple thank you. Who is God calling you to be, not in the distant future, but today? The way of vocation might not be extraordinary, but neither is it complicated. Rather the path of vocation is sacred and always lies open before us. We just need to pay attention. JOSHUA RIEDEL Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation