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Day 9 – Vocation
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” We learned from a young age to equate our vocation with our career path. Our vocation—our “calling”—is why we are at Belmont and it is how we will, eventually, put food on our tables. Don’t get me wrong, your dreams and plans of a future career are important (and so is putting food on the table!). However, perhaps much to the chagrin of our parents, “vocation” is so much more!
Vocation is about the present. It is not some distant work opportunity—making our current experiences nothing more than building blocks. We have many callings, many vocations, throughout our lives. And right now, first and foremost, your calling is to be a student.
Before you shout “nerd!” and tune me out, consider the unique blessing you have for the next four years: your primary job is to learn things. Proverbs 22:29 asks, “Do you see a man skilled in his craft?” It’s up to you to discover your particular craft, but for all of us, the challenge is simple: become skilled. Strive boldly for excellence.
Here’s the beauty of vocation, though: you don’t have to have it all figured out before you can answer the calling. Vocation is about how we live. Deuteronomy 15:10 tells us to “give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so.” This is our calling: to live from a posture of selflessness. We are called, in each moment, to be more hospitable, kinder, more generous and empathetic, more willing to listen and to love.
In high school I was involved in both soccer and theatre. I remember a conversation with my older brother and teammate about the two. He pointed out that with theatre you are building up to one grand moment of a three-show weekend, but with soccer you have matches throughout the season and each one is just as vital as the last.
Despite Shakespeare’s claim that “all the world’s a stage,” our lives are not high school theatre. We are called to more than just a three-show weekend. We are called to “live deliberately” in each and every day. Call it The Image of Christ, The Kingdom of Heaven, The Divine Dance, The Way. Call it soccer practice. Our current experiences aren’t building blocks of some grander scheme. Our current experiences are calling us. Every moment is our vocation.
WILL POTTER
Senior, Audio Engineering Technology major
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” We learned from a young age to equate our vocation with our career path. Our vocation—our “calling”—is why we are at Belmont and it is how we will, eventually, put food on our tables. Don’t get me wrong, your dreams and plans of a future career are important (and so is putting food on the table!). However, perhaps much to the chagrin of our parents, “vocation” is so much more!
Vocation is about the present. It is not some distant work opportunity—making our current experiences nothing more than building blocks. We have many callings, many vocations, throughout our lives. And right now, first and foremost, your calling is to be a student.
Before you shout “nerd!” and tune me out, consider the unique blessing you have for the next four years: your primary job is to learn things. Proverbs 22:29 asks, “Do you see a man skilled in his craft?” It’s up to you to discover your particular craft, but for all of us, the challenge is simple: become skilled. Strive boldly for excellence.
Here’s the beauty of vocation, though: you don’t have to have it all figured out before you can answer the calling. Vocation is about how we live. Deuteronomy 15:10 tells us to “give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so.” This is our calling: to live from a posture of selflessness. We are called, in each moment, to be more hospitable, kinder, more generous and empathetic, more willing to listen and to love.
In high school I was involved in both soccer and theatre. I remember a conversation with my older brother and teammate about the two. He pointed out that with theatre you are building up to one grand moment of a three-show weekend, but with soccer you have matches throughout the season and each one is just as vital as the last.
Despite Shakespeare’s claim that “all the world’s a stage,” our lives are not high school theatre. We are called to more than just a three-show weekend. We are called to “live deliberately” in each and every day. Call it The Image of Christ, The Kingdom of Heaven, The Divine Dance, The Way. Call it soccer practice. Our current experiences aren’t building blocks of some grander scheme. Our current experiences are calling us. Every moment is our vocation.
WILL POTTER
Senior, Audio Engineering Technology major
About this Plan
This 40-day prayer plan was written by students, faculty and staff at Belmont University as a daily devotional for incoming freshmen. Each day guides and encourages new college students in their faith in Jesus Christ through the word of God and the sincere thoughts, seasoned advice and honest prayers of the contributing authors. May these words help you grow in your love for God and your love for others!
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We would like to thank the students, faculty and staff of Belmont University for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.belmont.edu
