Problem with "Your Vocation Is Not About You" Article

[The Bus Station]

I think the article is beautifully written and makes very good points, but it failed to mention that God desires our happiness!  I know many people who faithfully and joyfully live their vocations.  While it is true that we are irreparably broken until we reach heaven, it is also true that God offers us joy and happiness in this life as well! Of course we must take up our crosses and offer our sufferings to God, but even that is an opportunity for joy.  I would go so far as to say living out or vocations is essential to live a peaceful, joyful life, thorns and all.  Just thought that was an important element the article was missing, and it was more depressing than encouraging as a result ... or is it just me?

[Gabriela]

I read this article a long time ago, so don't remember everything it said. But I think I recall that the author's main point seemed to be a critique of the aspect of discernment culture that suggests one will find the "perfect" community where everything will be bliss and berries. So, while I don't think it's just you—one does find deep peace and joy upon entering into one's vocation—I also think the author's focus was to draw attention to something else that is often neglected, and which could be detrimental to a discerner.

Whether living out our vocations is essential to living a peaceful, joyful life... I don't know. I think that depends on which "vocation" you're talking about. We are all called to holiness, and that is our primary vocation, so living out that vocation is, I think, essential to peace and joy. But there are also more specific vocations, like the religious, clerical, and married ones, and if God offered someone, say, religious life, and that person declined the offer, He can still bring good out of that, and the person can, I think, still find peace and joy in life. One's specific vocation becomes something else at the point of decline.

If you could post a link to the article, Bus Station, I think it would help others to comment.

[AveMariaPurissima]

1 hour ago, Gabriela said:

If you could post a link to the article, Bus Station, I think it would help others to comment.

The link is pinned to the top of VS: http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/137325-vocation-is-not-about-you/ 

 

[The Bus Station]

2 hours ago, Gabriela said:

I read this article a long time ago, so don't remember everything it said. But I think I recall that the author's main point seemed to be a critique of the aspect of discernment culture that suggests one will find the "perfect" community where everything will be bliss and berries. So, while I don't think it's just you—one does find deep peace and joy upon entering into one's vocation—I also think the author's focus was to draw attention to something else that is often neglected, and which could be detrimental to a discerner.

Whether living out our vocations is essential to living a peaceful, joyful life... I don't know. I think that depends on which "vocation" you're talking about. We are all called to holiness, and that is our primary vocation, so living out that vocation is, I think, essential to peace and joy. But there are also more specific vocations, like the religious, clerical, and married ones, and if God offered someone, say, religious life, and that person declined the offer, He can still bring good out of that, and the person can, I think, still find peace and joy in life. One's specific vocation becomes something else at the point of decline.

If you could post a link to the article, Bus Station, I think it would help others to comment.

Thanks for your response, Gabriela.  I think you are right about there not necessarily being just "one" path, perhaps I was too hyperbolic.  I admit, upon reflection, that I had a knee-jerk reaction to the article.  Like I said, I think the article is well-written and probably good for many discerners to read. The tone was too dour where it could have been joyful IMO, is all I'm saying, I guess.

[Gabriela]

1 hour ago, AveMariaPurissima said:

The link is pinned to the top of VS: http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/137325-vocation-is-not-about-you/ 

 

Doh!