Heard Something. What's a vocation and is anyone else's discernment meter working?

[DuckieLady]

Basically, I was getting ready to unplug for a couple of days cause I'm under a lot of stress, raising kids, and worried about a lot of stuff. I needed some time alone with God. Then I was also considering the past few days downsizing on some things.

Anyway, so I was praying about it and then I went to go pick up the remainder of 1,500 hair elastics on the floor (thanks kids) and then I heard "Live a little more simplistic. You're fulfilling your vocation."

So this time my discernment meter appears to be broken. I look up vocation and it seems job related or Catholic. It's not possible for it to be job related at this time and I am not Catholic. If it's Catholic, I don't want anything to do with it.

Is vocation a Catholic thing? What should I do with this? I'm still taking a few days off, probably not until I get ready to make dinner though.

 

[DuckieLady]

And is that even grammatically correct in the first place? To "fulfill" a career that hasn't even happened, or whatever it is supposed to mean, that doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Anyway, so I was praying about it and then I went to go pick up the remainder of 1,500 hair elastics on the floor (thanks kids) and then I heard "Live a little more simplistic. You're fulfilling your vocation."

Vocation is just another word for purpose, i.e. your spiritual occupation.

Let me share this with you. It's very basic. In 1st Timothy we read:

8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:8-15)

The word for "women" there is actually referring to wives, and the passage means that they will have their hands full already, so no need to worry about taking on other roles and responsibilities in the Lord. Their job is already before them, especially if they already have kids that need to be raised.

That may be what the Lord was trying to tell you. Maybe "simplistic" there simply means not to complicate things by worrying about it too much.

 

[DuckieLady]

Vocation is just another word for purpose, i.e. your spiritual occupation.

Let me share this with you. It's very basic. In 1st Timothy we read:

8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:8-15)

The word for "women" there is actually referring to wives, and the passage means that they will have their hands full already, so no need to worry about taking on other roles and responsibilities in the Lord. Their job is already before them, especially if they already have kids that need to be raised.

That may be what the Lord was trying to tell you. Maybe "simplistic" there simply means not to complicate things by worrying about it too much.

Hmmm... One part of me is tempted to say "cool" and just chill out after that and trust God but the other part of me says I need to study and finish on the coding course so I can take care of myself because I am nearing the time I don't have anyone to depend or rely on.

Wouldn't that be nice though!

 

[Hidden In Him]

Hmmm... One part of me is tempted to say "cool" and just chill out after that and trust God but the other part of me says I need to study and finish on the coding course so I can take care of myself because I am nearing the time I don't have anyone to depend or rely on.

Ah. Yes, well then things get a bit more complicated, BUT that may be precisely why He is telling you to live more simplistically...

What things in your life complicate it? And what things could make it simpler? Think about it.

 

[Pearl]

Basically, I was getting ready to unplug for a couple of days cause I'm under a lot of stress, raising kids, and worried about a lot of stuff. I needed some time alone with God. Then I was also considering the past few days downsizing on some things.

Anyway, so I was praying about it and then I went to go pick up the remainder of 1,500 hair elastics on the floor (thanks kids) and then I heard "Live a little more simplistic. You're fulfilling your vocation."

So this time my discernment meter appears to be broken. I look up vocation and it seems job related or Catholic. It's not possible for it to be job related at this time and I am not Catholic. If it's Catholic, I don't want anything to do with it.

Is vocation a Catholic thing? What should I do with this? I'm still taking a few days off, probably not until I get ready to make dinner though.

A vocation is just a 'calling' from God. It is not specifically Catholic or even spiritual as one can have a vocation/calling to be a nurse, teacher or any caring profession.

It sound like your calling just now is to be a mum and that's great. Enjoy it knowing you are doing exactly what God wants you to do. Don't beat yourself up trying to be something else just accept it.

 

[Rita]

Yes, I would agree, it’s a calling. I also believe that it can apply to anything that we have a sense of gifting to do. Sometimes we can feel as if we are not achieving much especially when we are looking after children and taking care of a home. For many years I use to get a great sense of satisfaction out of housework, or making untidy spaces tidy. I just thought it was ‘ normal ‘ until I encountered a friend that simply had no ability to do either. Eventually I worked for her, and taught her how to keep her house organised. When I started work at the care home I was a carer but somehow felt ‘ out of sync ‘ with the job. I would get it hit fingers when the housekeepers simply weren’t bothered about what they were doing. Anyway I transferred to housekeeping and love it, to me it is like a vocation. Using my natural gifts and abilities to honour the Lord in what I do.
Maybe you are trying too hard to ‘ look ‘ for your place, when the reality is that you are already doing what The Lord wants you to do. Vocations don’t have to be ‘ big things ‘ or for ‘ special tasks ‘ they can be in very simple every day tasks xx
What do you get a natural satisfaction out of doing, what do you enjoy that comes quite naturally ? That isn’t a question to answer publicly but perhaps something to ponder.
Rita

 

[WalterandDebbie]

Basically, I was getting ready to unplug for a couple of days cause I'm under a lot of stress, raising kids, and worried about a lot of stuff. I needed some time alone with God. Then I was also considering the past few days downsizing on some things.

Anyway, so I was praying about it and then I went to go pick up the remainder of 1,500 hair elastics on the floor (thanks kids) and then I heard "Live a little more simplistic. You're fulfilling your vocation."

So this time my discernment meter appears to be broken. I look up vocation and it seems job related or Catholic. It's not possible for it to be job related at this time and I am not Catholic. If it's Catholic, I don't want anything to do with it.

Is vocation a Catholic thing? What should I do with this? I'm still taking a few days off, probably not until I get ready to make dinner though.

Hi FluffyYellowDuck, Our mind is very important for us in todays life, while reading your post really deals with our attitude towards things.

We can have soo much on our mind until things just get out of focus of what we are suppose to do in life since we are a new creature, but old things are suppose to be passed away especially when it comes to having our way about something, but behold all! things become new.

So along with others views on vocations, I would say, neither give place to the devil, because how can The LORD help you if you don't 1st. seek His kingdom.

Love, Walter