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AngelRose81
Guest
This goes along with my other thread a bit because someone mentioned this in their reply. I’m not so sure I see my job as a “calling” but simply a job. What do you think?
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Feanaro_s_Wife
Guest
**I haven’t read the other thread…
I voted “it depends” because, well, it depends
It really is between the person and God. As much as I’d like to believe that, let’s say, all doctors are doctors because they feel called to the profession, we all know that’s not true. And there are some people who are convinced that their job is their calling but it is really their pride.
And another consideration… we always have to be open to God. He may call us to do something and then call us to do something else but we stay in the original situation because we know He called us there but neglect to see His new direction for us… hope that makes sense, i’m really tired, lol.**
I voted “it depends” because, well, it depends
It really is between the person and God. As much as I’d like to believe that, let’s say, all doctors are doctors because they feel called to the profession, we all know that’s not true. And there are some people who are convinced that their job is their calling but it is really their pride.
And another consideration… we always have to be open to God. He may call us to do something and then call us to do something else but we stay in the original situation because we know He called us there but neglect to see His new direction for us… hope that makes sense, i’m really tired, lol.**
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BamaRider
Guest
I tend to agree. Teaching is a unique job. Nurses, priests, military,cops, firefighters, doctors are service jobs in that you put others welfare ahead of you own. Not everyone can do it. God picks those individuals in a special way.
Ask yourself if you would do the job for free. If the answer is no, then look for something else. When you find youself in God’s plan, doing what you were put on this earth to do, you will know it, becaue a sense of pride and self worth take center stage.
When you are passioate about a job, you do it well.
Ask yourself if you would do the job for free. If the answer is no, then look for something else. When you find youself in God’s plan, doing what you were put on this earth to do, you will know it, becaue a sense of pride and self worth take center stage.
When you are passioate about a job, you do it well.
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Gearoidin
Guest
I think it depends on the job. Certain jobs, especially those that provide a service to others can be a “calling”. I would include priests and other religious, teachers, nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers in the category of jobs that you may be “called” to do. Of course, not everyone doing these jobs are “called” to those jobs. Some are in it just for the money, pride or power/control, some due to family expectations or some other reason.
BTW, I’m a teacher and have taught secondary school (ages 12-18) in Ireland, England and Japan. I am now a college lecturer. I absolutely love teaching and would do it as a volunteer if I couldn’t get a paid position. Actually, I have worked as a volunteer teacher during the vacations! It is all I ever wanted to be much to the horror of my family who wanted me to be a solicitor.
Gearoidin
BTW, I’m a teacher and have taught secondary school (ages 12-18) in Ireland, England and Japan. I am now a college lecturer. I absolutely love teaching and would do it as a volunteer if I couldn’t get a paid position. Actually, I have worked as a volunteer teacher during the vacations! It is all I ever wanted to be much to the horror of my family who wanted me to be a solicitor.
Gearoidin
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chevalier
Guest
What Bama said.
I don’t see particular jobs on the same level as religious vocations or lack thereof, but some are vocations, I’d say. The particular employer not necessarily, but a job in a general sense, yeah. Say, teaching may well be a vocation, but a particular school not really. For example, I’m a lawyer by education. I see it as a form of vocation, reluctantly so, even, and it’s visible in the way things happen with me. By contrast I don’t necessarily need to work as a lawyer in a law firm at all times. At this moment, I teach (not law). However, this teaching doesn’t really strike me as a vocation, more like I job that I do and am not so bad at, even though it’s not really a vocation.
I don’t see particular jobs on the same level as religious vocations or lack thereof, but some are vocations, I’d say. The particular employer not necessarily, but a job in a general sense, yeah. Say, teaching may well be a vocation, but a particular school not really. For example, I’m a lawyer by education. I see it as a form of vocation, reluctantly so, even, and it’s visible in the way things happen with me. By contrast I don’t necessarily need to work as a lawyer in a law firm at all times. At this moment, I teach (not law). However, this teaching doesn’t really strike me as a vocation, more like I job that I do and am not so bad at, even though it’s not really a vocation.
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Trishie
Guest
I think that whatever job we have has a calling which underpins it, and that is the call to live as loving God and His teachings above all in the integrity which with we live the commands of love in our lives. The underlying call requires us to respect and value those with and for whom we work…treating others as we wish to be treated.
In some ‘jobs’ the calling can be more intrinsic to the job itself, for instance, in medicine and teaching fields, as well as in religious life or priesthood.
In some ‘jobs’ the calling can be more intrinsic to the job itself, for instance, in medicine and teaching fields, as well as in religious life or priesthood.
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1ke
Guest
God gives us talents and gifts through the Holy Spirit. We are to use those to build up the kingdom.
For some these gifts and talents cross over into the work they choose, and God gives them a vocation of service.
For some these gifts and talents cross over into the work they choose, and God gives them a vocation of service.
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HouseArrest
Guest
I think people are called to do certain things, and sometimes that certain thing is in the form of a paid position. That doesn’t make it any less of a vocation. But I don’t think each and every person’s job is something they are being called to do. Sometimes it’s just a job. And I think someone can be a teacher, be good at it, but not be “called” to do it. I respect teachers, but I think we romanticize the profession in a way. We want all our teachers to be natural, excellect, outstanding teachers. That’s just not how life works. There are below, average, and above average everything - garbage collectors, teachers, doctors, engineers, accountants.
A lot of times in our school district people will complain about a certain (average) teacher. He’s not outstanding, not gung ho, not excited enough. People need to get over it and do what they can to get their kid to learn from him regardless. I don’t think it is reasonable for people to think they are going to send their kid to school for 6 hours and they are going to come home knowing everything they need to know.
Not trying to turn it into a school debate with the second paragraph here - I think it explains my opinion.
A lot of times in our school district people will complain about a certain (average) teacher. He’s not outstanding, not gung ho, not excited enough. People need to get over it and do what they can to get their kid to learn from him regardless. I don’t think it is reasonable for people to think they are going to send their kid to school for 6 hours and they are going to come home knowing everything they need to know.
Not trying to turn it into a school debate with the second paragraph here - I think it explains my opinion.
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dconklin
Guest
Two years ago I attended a Youth Minister’s retreat (going back this weekend!) and one of the talks was on Marriage and the Ministry. The leader began by having us ask ourselves what our vocation is. YM immediately popped into my head. She corrected us all by telling us (we were all married) our vocation is our marriage. That really opened my eyes. I am called to be a husband and dad. All the other stuff is gravy.
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basilisk
Guest
I think things like the military, police, firefighter, doctor, nurse, social worker, veterinarian, even politician can be “callings.”
My cruddy job, where I unload trucks and distribute newspaper parts to the tables the carriers use to assemble the papers before delivery, for a company that is horribly run and may not be able to last out the year… definitely NOT a calling! Just a way to bring in a few bucks for the family during some of the hours my DH is not at work.
My cruddy job, where I unload trucks and distribute newspaper parts to the tables the carriers use to assemble the papers before delivery, for a company that is horribly run and may not be able to last out the year… definitely NOT a calling! Just a way to bring in a few bucks for the family during some of the hours my DH is not at work.
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Magickman
Guest
A job becoming a calling is mostly within the heart of the individual. Even a common, mundane job may be a calling for some folks.
I am reminded of two brothers who installed wood flooring at my home. They worked with such care, and obvious pride of worksmanship, that they made this seemingly ordinary job into a calling.
One of the flooring brothers told me how good it made him feel, to make people’s homes beautiful and comfortable. Their job was certainly a calling.
I am reminded of two brothers who installed wood flooring at my home. They worked with such care, and obvious pride of worksmanship, that they made this seemingly ordinary job into a calling.
One of the flooring brothers told me how good it made him feel, to make people’s homes beautiful and comfortable. Their job was certainly a calling.
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msugeotech
Guest
I don’t view my job as a calling, but I do enjoy it. I see it as a means to earn a nice salary to provide for my family, as well as help others. I’ve been blessed to be able to give money to my parish, and those in need. I work as a civil engineer in state government, so I see it as having a double duty to make sure my designs are safe, and are the best use of taxpayers money. I do agree that some are called to their profession as BamaRider and others have pointed out. I see mine as a means to an end in some respects, and would find another one if this one no longer suited me. But, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
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HouseArrest
Guest
absolutely
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Teakafrog
Guest
As usual, I’m the dissenter. 
My VOCATION is my calling–it’s being a wife and mother. My JOB is just that–a job to pay the bills with. And here’s the thing–I’m a nurse, which is one of the jobs that many of you listed as being a ‘calling’. It’s not. I enjoy it, and I do care about my patients and I even pray for them, but it is definitely not something I’m passionate about. If I could make the same money working at Pizza Hut, I would do it in a heartbeat. There is way too much stress and responsibility (as in, you’re blamed for things that aren’t even your fault) being a nurse, but it pays good, and right now I have to work until DH’s business takes off. Job, yes. Calling…not a chance.
My VOCATION is my calling–it’s being a wife and mother. My JOB is just that–a job to pay the bills with. And here’s the thing–I’m a nurse, which is one of the jobs that many of you listed as being a ‘calling’. It’s not. I enjoy it, and I do care about my patients and I even pray for them, but it is definitely not something I’m passionate about. If I could make the same money working at Pizza Hut, I would do it in a heartbeat. There is way too much stress and responsibility (as in, you’re blamed for things that aren’t even your fault) being a nurse, but it pays good, and right now I have to work until DH’s business takes off. Job, yes. Calling…not a chance.
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Appleby
Guest
I would agree with this. I have had maids who considered their work a calling, and certainly the difference they made in my life would have me agree. And I definitely consider motherhood a calling, as is nursing and, er, doctoring, and properly approached teaching.
I have a friend who considers race car driving a vocation because it gives him the opportunity to speak to school classes and church groups and gatherings of young men about the Lord where he might not gain entry otherwise – and because he isn’t a “preacher” or Guy In A Suit, he feels that he can reach young men because he’s Just A Guy like they are.
And I must mention the good Sisters and the volunteers at Francis House, the hospice where my sainted Daddy spent his last two months on Earth. Those who minister to the dying are a special breed set apart and God bless them all.
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diosa25
Guest
I agree with this. I think some jobs are callings in the sense that they allow the TRUE work to be done THROUGH them. It is the avenue through which God’s work is being done. Celebrities or pro sports players are a good example, they could reach millions of people!
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Salonika
Guest
I voted “it depends” because I think this is so.
I think some paid jobs demand/require such dedication to do properly that they can be considered a calling. Some examples are (not intended as exclusive) medical doctor, nursing, teaching, being a caregiver for abused/neglected children, working with abused/neglected animals.
Then there are paid jobs that are a calling because the person feels called to them and often goes the extra mile on the job - the caregiver in a rest home who takes time with each resident, the person who uses the opportunities in their job to help others as much as possible or to reconcile those in conflict in the workplace.
For other people their paid job is something that gives them the ability (including financial) to carry out their real calling. They do their paid job well but their heart and real contribution is elsewhere.
For some people there is no calling to a paid job because their calling is elsewhere either for all or part of their lives. This group would include stay at home parents, those caring for dependent relatives.
I’ve used the term “paid job” above because there is also the interesting question of what is a job? To qualify must a person be in an employment relationship? Parenting, being a priest or religious obviously involves work but does it qualify as a paid job? Sometimes, never?
I think some paid jobs demand/require such dedication to do properly that they can be considered a calling. Some examples are (not intended as exclusive) medical doctor, nursing, teaching, being a caregiver for abused/neglected children, working with abused/neglected animals.
Then there are paid jobs that are a calling because the person feels called to them and often goes the extra mile on the job - the caregiver in a rest home who takes time with each resident, the person who uses the opportunities in their job to help others as much as possible or to reconcile those in conflict in the workplace.
For other people their paid job is something that gives them the ability (including financial) to carry out their real calling. They do their paid job well but their heart and real contribution is elsewhere.
For some people there is no calling to a paid job because their calling is elsewhere either for all or part of their lives. This group would include stay at home parents, those caring for dependent relatives.
I’ve used the term “paid job” above because there is also the interesting question of what is a job? To qualify must a person be in an employment relationship? Parenting, being a priest or religious obviously involves work but does it qualify as a paid job? Sometimes, never?
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