Vocation or dream?

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aroosi

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About six yeard ago I had at some point a clear desire to start a very specific project. It was related to my work field but honestly I had no means or courage to start it and take the risks connected with it. Many things changed in the last few years and this idea was put in the back burner. Now I solved some personal struggles and my faith is much stronger too. Suddenly crossed my path somebody that is very interested in the same topic. My old project resurfaced in my mind and I am very tempted to bring it up with this person to see if there is a way to realize it practically. How do I know if this is really a vocation or just a dream?
 
What kind of project? Have you worked out the cost, feasibility, risks?
 
I don’t want to enter much in the details. There is a similar project that was started few years ago but became the perfect example of an (almost) failed project. I think part of the problem is that they started big, putting a lot of emphasis on the physical building but not on the people that would benefit from the services. I would like to start with exactly the opposite approach. My question is how do you know of this is really a ‘call’ or vocation? I think if this is really what God wants me to do I will find also the means to do it but a part of me is afraid to get stuck.
 
aroosi said:
how do you know of this is really a ‘call’ or vocation? I think if this is really what God wants me to do I will find also the means to do it but a part of me is afraid to get stuck.
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How you know is that you’re already doing it, maybe just planning but nonetheless doing it. If you are drawn to it and it is not just harmless but actually beneficial then why would God not want you to do it? And in fact it may be exactly what God wants, pray for help and assistance and if it’s Gods will things will happen for you. If it fails then that’s part of your journey too. We pray and then accept, we have no choice.

Incidentally, in my experience things often are somewhere in between extremes, the building is most important, the people,are most important, maybe a compromise would be good? Your call of course.
 
You sound like the 50 or so people I have on our Fullerton Society for founders and friends listserv. You’ve got to live the life yourself so you can teach it to others. That’s how it gets going. I know from experience that if ppl are talking about the buildings, etc., as I used to do, there will be problems getting going.

You’ve got exactly the right idea for starting. Live the life you’re inspired to live, then ask the other person if they concur. Perhaps you’ll find common ground. Even without that happening, you’d be considered a private association of Christ’s faithful if you so desire. Draw up statutes that help set rules for how the two of you will interact with yourselves and others. What prayers will you be praying separately, and/or in common?

You’ll be living your group’s “third order” existence first. That’s just about default because you’re not living in common to begin with. Those who don’t qualify for an actual religious community are often those who come first. How can they share your spirituality?

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
Funny enough when we met first several years ago I was a relapsed Catholic and the other person was atheist but we both worked on the same field. Our paths met again lately,now we are both devouted Catholics and both very close to Franciscan spirituality (but we both changed field of work). Basically my idea is to use our technical abilities but with a ‘Franciscan spin’.
 
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Have you tried asking God? take it to God in prayer. Its not a bad idea to ask people’s opinion, but we are just people and we can never know. God will know. It is my opinion that God wants you to know your vocation, so He will reveal it to you if you give him to opportunity. I heard someone say the other day (or read it I forget which) that a nun said if we were to speak of God in human terms, we’d have to say He has very good manners because he doesnt interrupt us or talk over us… If we surround ourselves with noise and activity he will just wait patiently until we ask him or listen to him. That about sums it up in my opinion. I think it’s also known as perfect humility as our God respects the free will he gave us. Blows your mind that kind of love doesnt it. Anyway, try asking and really listening to the answer, it’s not easy I agree. But if you do, you will most certainly get a reply. God bless you
 
I am praying a lot about it and I think it may be my call. There are a lot of weird coincidences happening about it. I want to talk about it with a spiritual director and go from there. Just wanted to know how anybody facing a big decision could discern well between God’s will and his/her own will.
 
Unless it’s morally questionable which I doubt, why would God disaggree with your project? If I were you I would give it a shot and if I really wanted to do it ask God for help anyway. And then follow the lead of events.
Even if God does indeed want you to do it there may be many obstacles in the way not necessarily from the Enemy or people’s ill intent against you but maybe even from God, for your own clarification, on whether you truly want to do this and how much so.
 
Just an update. I talked with my spiritual director and he approved it (he actually told me also what I should avoid and other precious suggestions). Today I am taking the first step to’test the waters’. Please keep me in your prayers. Thank you very very much.
 
A clarification (with no bad intentions), a Vocation isn´t the same as a project, and some even say it isn´t the same as a profession.
A Vocation is a calling from God to a way of Life, a lifelong misssion to contribute to Salvation´s Plan. A Vocation can be forming a saintly family (Matrimony), administering sacaraments and sacramentals (Priesthood), praying, working and studying in a catholic community (Monkhood), etc.

Unless your project is specifically for helping the Church, I don`t think it would be equal to a Vocation, but God can always help you and encourage you to do it, of course.
 
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Project is a word used within the church for new religious communities. That may be what he’s called to do.
 
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