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Truthseeker
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 438 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Thu Apr 12th, 2007 02:01 pm |
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What do you do if you feel that you are not able to live your vocation? When you can't be the person you truly are and can't fulfill the needs of your own soul?
By vocation, I mean who you are in life, not necessarily religious vocations.
I guess I'm just wondering if we know whether or not we are fulfilling our purpose in life and what to do if we're not able to.
Thanks-
Love Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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Annie
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| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Apr 12th, 2007 02:15 pm |
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I think about this a lot. I think I may be where I am supposed to be but life has such twists and turns how do we know we were not supposed to go down that path with all the ferns growing on it rather than the one with the big oak trees?
I think like anything it takes time and listening. If things are going very wrong it can be a sign you are in the wrong place, but on the other hand it can be a sign you are needed where you are to fix things. sigh...:?
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Annie
Ora et labora
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SBC2RCC
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | York, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 132 |
| First Name: | Monte | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | was Southern Baptist Minister, now Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Apr 12th, 2007 08:48 pm |
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| I think that the important thing is to pray and pursue such a vocation. God calls each of us, and along with that, He makes a way to follow. Yet, often the path is long and difficult. Many of the obstacles are of our own making, especially for me. Yet, I want to keep trying to follow. I like the text where Paul talks of pressing on toward the mark. Paul also speaks of seeking to lay hold of that for which God has laid hold of him.
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In Christ,
Monte W
(Formerly on CHN Forum as "Pilgrim Paul"
Minima Maxima Sunt
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Apr 12th, 2007 09:22 pm |
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Truthseeker wrote: What do you do if you feel that you are not able to live your vocation? When you can't be the person you truly are and can't fulfill the needs of your own soul?
Few of us perfectly fulfill our vocations. When we do, I believe we achieve perfect happiness. The only people I have ever seen who I believe were perfectly happy have either been canonized (Padre Pio) or are on their way (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, John Paul II).
Lay Witness magazine had a picture of Mother Teresa on the cover a few years ago, and its beauty was striking. You could see the happiness exuding from even her picture. People who didn't know who she was would pass my desk and be startled by the picture.
At my age, I'm still not sure what God is calling me to do. I hope someday I'll find out ... but I doubt it.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Truthseeker
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 438 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Fri Apr 13th, 2007 11:38 am |
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Well, in my case, I am sure that I will never be permitted to do that which I feel called to do, even if I get the courage to pursue it. The longings to help people, those longings from my childhood, are beginning to feel more concrete in my heart, bnut my marriage is so damaged at this point. My husband doesn't really understand helping others.
Well, I'm just so bitter, that I can't even find a charitable statement to express my thoughts. Suffice it to say that, I want to do certain things to help certain people, and I know my husband will never, ever allow it.
Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
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| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Apr 13th, 2007 03:20 pm |
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Two things, Laura:
1. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once said, “I am not called to be successful, but to be faithful.” Even if you are prevented by others from achieving what you understand is your vocation (and it may well be that it is), this does not mean that you are a failure before God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10–12).
2. Charity and helping begin at home. If you are embittered against your husband, how do you think to help others, many of whom will have the same attitude as your husband?
I have a number of personal faults that I’ve been working on for years, and I haven’t made all that much progress on them, even with guidance. Sometimes I feel like the salt that has lost its savor, good for nothing but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot (cf. Matthew 5:13). Yet somehow I am not sinning mortally. Imperfection is our lot, and we cannot blame others for our own falls. God is faithful so long as we keep trying. He may seem a million miles away, but he sustains our very being. How much closer can he be than this? If God never allows me to accomplish certain things, do you think that he is requiring me to somehow find an opening and do them anyway? Or would you instead accept this limitation and bow to his will? “Lord, please make my will your will!” Yes! And it begins here. This is how you do it.
David
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Apr 13th, 2007 04:39 pm |
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God uses our flaws. From my Inspirations web site:
The Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Truthseeker
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 438 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Sat Apr 14th, 2007 05:20 pm |
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Thank you both. That story was beautiful.
I went to confession today, so for just this moment, I am not cracked.
God bless!
Laura
____________________
Lord, please make my will your Will!
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lia
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Posts: | 98 |
| First Name: | lia | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Apr 23rd, 2007 08:23 am |
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Does one really know one's vocation in life? Wouldn't it be more comforting to just live it and see where it take us? Although I'm not saying we live it nilly-willy...
Does it matter to know exactly what one's vocation is? I believe God made us flexible enough, that even if we stray from the path He himself has designed for us, because of His love for us, and if we remain faithful...even the "detours" of our lives would be made meaningful by Him.
There is only one thing our soul needs...and that's to be with Him. And the only way to do this is to do as Jesus asked of us, "Be holy like your Heavenly Father is holy."
I believe if we do good in our lives, love God and His Church,...as long as we do this...even if we "think" we are not doing our vocation in life...Then WE ARE DOING OUR VOCATION. I don't know if that made sense, but if we are to always question what we do in terms of "Is this what I'm supposed to do? Is this my vocation in life?" Then wouldn't we just feel frustration, dissatisfaction and unfulfillment in our lives? There's a saying...JUST DO YOUR BEST AND GOD WILL DO THE REST.
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Man can't b forced 2 accept the truth.He can b drawn toward the truth only by his own nature, that is, by his own freedom w/c commits him 2 search sincerely 4 truth & when he finds it, 2 adhere 2 it both in his conviction & his behavior.-- JP2
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David W. Emery
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Posted: Mon Apr 23rd, 2007 09:06 am |
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Lia, there is truth in what you say. But I think you are confusing the general call to holiness with vocation properly so called and not looking at the entire panorama of human life. There are several levels to God’s call, each more specific and intimate than the one preceding. The call to holiness is the least specific. Basically, it means that every human being has a vocation to worship God and live an upright life. Then there is the individual’s general vocation to the married life, the consecrated life (including the priesthood or religious life), or the single life in the world. Thirdly, each individual has a specific calling to do particular things with his life, as God gives him ability and opportunity. It might be a choice of career or involvement in a specific society or organization, or even to marry this particular person rather than another. Finally, there is the moment to moment prompting of the Holy Spirit as he guides us to do things one way rather than another, to choose A over B in our daily lives.
David
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lia
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | Quezon City, Philippines |
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| First Name: | lia | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Apr 25th, 2007 05:15 am |
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I understand what you're saying David...I guess i made it sound like a general call to holiness. But with Laura's question, it's like... "Am I where I'm supposed to be?"
(What do you do if you feel that you are not able to live your vocation? )
Is one to quit? Or see it through? There could be something for us if we quit...and then again, there could be something equally valuable for us if we stick to it. Or both path leads to the same thing. If our heart is in the right place, God would surely be with us every step of the way leading us to where He wants us to go. We can't despair if we think we're making a mistake in our decisions in our lives. Because God is always there to help us when we ask it of Him.
(When you can't be the person you truly are and can't fulfill the needs of your own soul?)
This one is like living a life which is a lie. One wants to do something which one feels would fulfill the needs of one's soul...but can't? But, instead of looking at something which may be unfulfilling, there must be something there that one is just overlooking and that indeed, if one finds it...it can be fulfilling. Maybe it's a matter of asking God's to help find it.
(By vocation, I mean who you are in life, not necessarily religious vocations.)
Vocations other than the religious life, is as you said married life and single blessedness (that's what my religion teacher called it when I accidentally called her a spinster  ). So there are those who thinks married life is for them and yet couldn't get married. And though he/she waits for that "special" someone, she is still in the path of holiness. He/she is still fulfilling his/her vocation. As for work vocations...from my experience although I wanted "out" from a certain work...it's like I was asked to wait for the right time. And while in those "jobs"...I did my best and hope to find joy in them even if just for my love of Jesus.
(I guess I'm just wondering if we know whether or not we are fulfilling our purpose in life and what to do if we're not able to.)
Since we cannot know for sure if we are fulfilling our purpose in life (unless God can outright tell one, "My child, not that way.") ergo, we cannot say we are not able to do it. We just have to do it, make adjustments if necessary, and pray we are doing things right, even if we "think" it might not be.
Should I have answered it this way in the first place? Or am I saying the same thing? :?
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Man can't b forced 2 accept the truth.He can b drawn toward the truth only by his own nature, that is, by his own freedom w/c commits him 2 search sincerely 4 truth & when he finds it, 2 adhere 2 it both in his conviction & his behavior.-- JP2
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Truthseeker
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 438 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Wed Apr 25th, 2007 01:34 pm |
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Hi Lia-
I do have to say your second response was more thorough!  I appreciate your thoughts.
God bless,
Laura
____________________
Lord, please make my will your Will!
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