What is Vocation?

The word vocation means calling. There is a commonly held conviction that calling applies to pastors only. I would like to break that definition. The truth of the matter is quite different: every human being has a vocation, has a calling. By baptism you have already accepted the invitation to carry out your vocation, to carry out your calling. Every Christ follower is a called person. Listen to the words of God speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, they apply to each of you: “before I formed you in the womb, I knew you and before you were born, I called you.” One of the chief tasks of an ordained person is to help people uncover and develop their calling. One of the best theologians I have ever heard describe the nature of calling is Jamie Oliver.

 In the latest series on SBS, Jamie Oliver is touring Italy. He begins his journey cooking with a group of monks in a monastery that has one of the oldest herb gardens. While in the kitchen he says something along the lines of “the dinner table is my altar”. Wow! That is exactly right. Hospitality is his priestly calling. 

In the Scripture today James and John leave Zebedee to follow Jesus. I find myself getting in the boat with Zebedee and explaining to him that it is all very well for John and James to follow Jesus into the sunset, at some point they still must eat. In my imagination, I observe James and John following Jesus through an itinerant ministry, healing and preaching. I imagine the disciples returning at the end of the day to Galilee, hungry and exhausted from the day’s work. I notice the thoughtful Zebedee knocking on the door in the place they are staying and bringing in a feast of barbequed fish, caught on his repaired nets. John and James were called to a ministry of preaching and healing. Zebedee’s calling is to be the net holder.

 What is a calling?

Calling is a Biblical word to describe how each person has something beautiful to do for God. The Spirit calls us to fulfil a particular task as our unique way of celebrating the Spirits presence in the world. Our calling is our unique way to give glory to God. Each of us has an assignment to do that has our name written on the tag. Each of us has a song to sing, a message to deliver, a special gift of love to offer that no one else can offer.

Whispers of resistance

The experience of calling is never a smooth path. A calling unfolds slowly and changes shape as it grows and develops. The process involves a bit of searching and testing. Often there are whispers of resistance, of negativity of self-doubt. Thoughts like: “Someone else can do it better” “I do not know enough about God.” “What happens if I fail?” Take heart, the Bible is full of good examples of whispers of resistance: Jeremiah says he is too young, Moses complains that he stutters, Isaiah says that he is a man of unclean lips.

A calling brings nourishment

We answer a call because a calling is something that brings nourishment to our lives and the lives of those around us. Jesus himself said: it is my meat and drink to do my Fathers will. What does he mean? To carry out our calling offers us deep satisfaction, a deep sense of joy and fulfilment. Not only does it nourish our souls, but it nourishes the souls of those around us. When we carry out our calling there is a deep and profound sense that our souls are fulfilled.

Some hints at discovering God’s calling for your life

I would like to offer some signposts at discovering your call. The first suggestion is this: what human cry in the community disturbs you the most? What are the needs in the community around you that worry you that you notice? A previous senior minister would often say at leaders meeting when somebody had a suggestion as to what we should be doing: “He who gets the vision gets the mission.” What he was suggesting is that the needs and gaps that you notice are often your calling. The very fact that you notice certain needs may arise from your calling. There are plenty examples of this. One that I could offer is a story of Moira Simpson who lives in Benoni South Africa who was bothered by the number of street children in Benoni, she responded by starting a home for them, this was her calling.

A second suggestion relates to finding out what nourishes our soul. Let me explain, sometimes people come to me burdened with the question: “What is God’s will for my life?” I usually respond by asking them: “What is it that you have to do, that you cannot do without? Or what are your deepest desires? What makes you happy? They may respond by saying things like art, music or children make me happy, they are some things that I cannot do without. Bingo! You have found your calling; this is because the deepest desires of our hearts coincide with God’s deepest longing for us.

 Conclusion

The Spirit calls us to fulfil a particular task as our unique way of celebrating the Spirits presence in the world. It will be different for each of us. Some of us our called to be mothers and fathers, some of us are called to teaching, or music or art. We give glory to God and live life at its fullest when we lean into our calling.

I mentioned Jamie Oliver’s travels through Italy beginning at an Italian monastery. Jamie offers to say grace at an evening meal but makes a faux pas. He prays: “For what we are about to receive may God be truly thankful". I think that is exactly right. When we recognise that the tools of our trade, be they computers, machinery or cooking utensils are sacred vessels and our place of activity, be it a bus, a classroom or a factory is a sanctuary, and we are all priests, God is truly thankful.