What else can I do?

[seeker_of_God]

I’m not really sure how to express this, so please bear with me as I try.

I’m so caught up with reading, learning, praying, doing everything I can to serve God, that I can’t really imagine doing anything else, and slowly other things in my life are being pushed aside. I can’t imagine living any other way besides having God as the central pillar of my life. I can’t imagine having a secular job, because I can’t think of anything else I am nearly as engaged in.

I’ve tried doing other things in the past. I’m in college, and have switched majors a few times, and though I thought I had interest in all of them, I realized I didn’t want to be doing any of them for the rest of my life.

And now I can’t imagine how I could do anything besides dedicate my whole life to God. I realize that you can serve Him through secular work, but that’s just not very appealing to me at all.

I’m switching to philosophy with a theology minor, because I can’t imagine what else I could study.

That’ll be next semester, though, and I’m having such trouble finishing off this semester because I hate doing other work.

I spend hours reading and learning about the Church and Her teachings, praying, etc. pretty soon the whole day is gone and I’ve not gotten much else accomplished.

So, I guess my question is, how do you do other work when you are so consumed with love for God? How can you fathom doing something else for the rest of your life that is outside of that? I ask, because I really don’t know what to do.

 

[LilyM]

Sounds like you may well be receiving a call to the priesthood or the religious life. Have you considered it?

Otherwise you could certainly take your interest in philosophy and theology ino the education area - teach others about what you’re learning. I’m sure other posters can come up with other ideas.

 

[seeker_of_God]

Sounds like you may well be receiving a call to the priesthood or the religious life. Have you considered it?

Otherwise you could certainly take your interest in philosophy and theology ino the education area - teach others about what you’re learning. I’m sure other posters can come up with other ideas.

Yes, I have considered priesthood or a religious order. I’m not sure which yet, though the Franciscans are intriguing and I keep unintentionally reading about them, though I’m not putting too much significance to that, yet. I’m honestly not sure whether being a Diocesan priest, or a priest or brother in a religious order would be more appealing.

There’s something intriguing and appealing about devoting one’s entire day to God, as religious seem to do (though I guess priests do, too), and also having that exclusion and being free of noise and distraction from the world. On the other hand, I consider that it’s more helpful to try to help bring others closer to God, too, instead of just oneself. Maybe there can be components of both in a religious order?

Anyway, I guess I just wondered whether others felt the same way, and how they dealt with it. Obviously not every Catholic is a priest or religious.

 

[rowermath]

I too am a college student. I understand what you mean about not knowing what to do. When I’m not spending my time studying and doing my class work, I do fret about not spending enough of my time with God, whether in prayer, spiritual reading, etc. I’m just a freshman, so I know I have a whole lot of time ahead of me to figure out where God will lead me in life, so I try not to worry about that. I am a student and need to remember that this is my state in life. This means doing my best in my classes and focusing most on my school work so that when God’s Will does becomes clearer to me, I am ready to go where He needs. As much as I can, I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. I have yet to say Morning Prayer though on a weekday as I have sports practice and I am too lazy to wake up earlier than I already need to. But I do what I can.
As to switching majors…that is what we are in college to do: find out what we are interested in and pursue that. In the first three weeks I already switched one of my majors. Whatever we are interested in, God will lead us to a life where we can put it to good use. I have been informally discerning my vocation to the religious life for a few years. I have been looking more into the Dominicans because the thought of teaching in a classroom and serving God in that way fills my heart with great joy.
I don’t know how close you are to finishing college, but my advice is to just concentrate on your studies for now, and God will show Himself to you in due time.

Your sister in Christ!

 

[seeker_of_God]

I too am a college student. I understand what you mean about not knowing what to do. When I’m not spending my time studying and doing my class work, I do fret about not spending enough of my time with God, whether in prayer, spiritual reading, etc. I’m just a freshman, so I know I have a whole lot of time ahead of me to figure out where God will lead me in life, so I try not to worry about that. I am a student and need to remember that this is my state in life. This means doing my best in my classes and focusing most on my school work so that when God’s Will does becomes clearer to me, I am ready to go where He needs. As much as I can, I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. I have yet to say Morning Prayer though on a weekday as I have sports practice and I am too lazy to wake up earlier than I already need to. But I do what I can.
As to switching majors…that is what we are in college to do: find out what we are interested in and pursue that. In the first three weeks I already switched one of my majors. Whatever we are interested in, God will lead us to a life where we can put it to good use. I have been informally discerning my vocation to the religious life for a few years. I have been looking more into the Dominicans because the thought of teaching in a classroom and serving God in that way fills my heart with great joy.
I don’t know how close you are to finishing college, but my advice is to just concentrate on your studies for now, and God will show Himself to you in due time.

Your sister in Christ!

Thanks for your reply, and for your first post being in this thread.

I sort of understand what you’re saying. It’s easier said than done though to just concentrate on my studies, because I want those studies to be about God and the Church. I can’t pretend to be interested in something else, and just wait until God reveals His will to me. I mean that I need to be doing everything I can until then.

I can literally think of nothing else I am so interested in. There are other things I’m good at, but not that I want to study or have as a career.

If I try imagining having some other job, well I’m left feeling empty. My only other hobby right now is relaxing by hanging out with friends in my fraternity. If I’m not doing that, I’m usually reading, learning, praying, etc, as I said.

The only way I can describe it is as a consuming passion that leaves no room for anything else. Everything else pales in comparison.

 

[rowermath]

Well, then I guess from all I know about you from what you have written, I would say you have your answer. When you feel consumed with love for God, think of your life after college when you may in fact be priest or religous: then you will be able to spend more of your time closer to Him. As I read in a novel and was also reminded: ‘This too shall pass’. Do what you are required now, and then what God wills will come, in His time.

 

[wjp984]

First of all, no matter what major you choose, my guess is at least 50% and sometimes up to 70% of your classes will not fall within the category of your major towards the degree. As I’m sure you know, one has to take 2 years of general education classes, probably some US history, and state and local govt.

No matter what you choose you are not going to like every class you take. You just have to do it.

I am in law school and undergrad is a joke compared to now and my entire 4 years had little to nothing to do with what I am studying now. But the undergrad degree is a perequisite to law school.

While law school is a lot better since I am interested in 75% of the classes I take, there are still dreadful required classes and areas of law that I dislike and subjects that I may never use but nonetheless are on the bar so I will have to study them.

My guess is the same is true no matter what field one goes into or even no matter what one does in life.

So with that in mind, everything you are now doing is for God and finishing the classes you dont like are still for God as they will probably still fall into some category in whatever it is you need to do.

Finally, even in law school, I still debate what God wants for me as in order to get through my first year of law I had to get more involved with prayer than ever before. With God’s help I scored in the top of my class and now only have to pay a minimal portion of my tuition so I’m very thankful and am still open to whatever vocation God has for me.

The point is just trust in God and enjoy undergrad while it lasts.

 

[grandfather]

So, I guess my question is, how do you do other work when you are so consumed with love for God? How can you fathom doing something else for the rest of your life that is outside of that? I ask, because I really don’t know what to do.

It is a matter of discipline.

 

[seeker_of_God]

First of all, no matter what major you choose, my guess is at least 50% and sometimes up to 70% of your classes will not fall within the category of your major towards the degree. As I’m sure you know, one has to take 2 years of general education classes, probably some US history, and state and local govt.

No matter what you choose you are not going to like every class you take. You just have to do it.

I am in law school and undergrad is a joke compared to now and my entire 4 years had little to nothing to do with what I am studying now. But the undergrad degree is a perequisite to law school.

While law school is a lot better since I am interested in 75% of the classes I take, there are still dreadful required classes and areas of law that I dislike and subjects that I may never use but nonetheless are on the bar so I will have to study them.

My guess is the same is true no matter what field one goes into or even no matter what one does in life.

So with that in mind, everything you are now doing is for God and finishing the classes you dont like are still for God as they will probably still fall into some category in whatever it is you need to do.

Finally, even in law school, I still debate what God wants for me as in order to get through my first year of law I had to get more involved with prayer than ever before. With God’s help I scored in the top of my class and now only have to pay a minimal portion of my tuition so I’m very thankful and am still open to whatever vocation God has for me.

The point is just trust in God and enjoy undergrad while it lasts.

I understand what you’re saying, but my core classes are split over my entire time here, so that I usually only have to take 1 or 2 per semester.

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Thanks for your reply, and for your first post being in this thread.

I sort of understand what you’re saying. It’s easier said than done though to just concentrate on my studies, because I want those studies to be about God and the Church. I can’t pretend to be interested in something else, and just wait until God reveals His will to me. I mean that I need to be doing everything I can until then.

I can literally think of nothing else I am so interested in. There are other things I’m good at, but not that I want to study or have as a career.

If I try imagining having some other job, well I’m left feeling empty. My only other hobby right now is relaxing by hanging out with friends in my fraternity. If I’m not doing that, I’m usually reading, learning, praying, etc, as I said.

The only way I can describe it is as a consuming passion that leaves no room for anything else. Everything else pales in comparison.

Just to add a bit here??? If in fact you are called to the priesthood or to religious order priesthood you will still need schooling of some sort. [If you feel the call to living life as a monk or brother… I am not so well versed in their requirements]

Perhaps you ought to connect with the Diocesesan Vocations Director to discern if you have a call? Then perhaps you can see how your program of study is not a “waste of time”, maybe even plan a college major around whatever studies might be needed ?
… the current "Visions " vocation magazine had an excellent article entitled “How to survive a quarterlife crisis”… basically it said that no experience is wasted if you learn and grow from it, and build a foundation for whatever comes next.
[Vision 2009]

My point being here perhaps if you develope a plan??? Then you might see how your present experience will or can be used for future experiences?
Blessings Of Peace and All Good On your journey*

 

[seeker_of_God]

Just to add a bit here??? If in fact you are called to the priesthood or to religious order priesthood you will still need schooling of some sort. [If you feel the call to living life as a monk or brother… I am not so well versed in their requirements]

Perhaps you ought to connect with the Diocesesan Vocations Director to discern if you have a call? Then perhaps you can see how your program of study is not a “waste of time”, maybe even plan a college major around whatever studies might be needed ?
… the current "Visions " vocation magazine had an excellent article entitled “How to survive a quarterlife crisis”… basically it said that no experience is wasted if you learn and grow from it, and build a foundation for whatever comes next.
[Vision 2009]

My point being here perhaps if you develope a plan??? Then you might see how your present experience will or can be used for future experiences?
Blessings Of Peace and All Good On your journey*

Thanks a lot for the advice.

Usually, I’d be fine, if I saw that what I’m doing is leading to what I will be doing in the future. But this semester is so hard now because I’m currently a physics major, switching into philosophy, but still have to take the science classes to finish out this semester. It really has nothing to do with anything, and I won’t need those classes for anything. So it is hard to work very hard at them instead of spending more time doing those other things in preparation for what I’d like to do.

 

[elisa]

I guess I understand what you are talking about. I feel I’m in similar situation. Currently I work as a lawyer (plus some studies left), but it’s totally not I would like to do all my entire life! I try go to Holy Mass daily in order to keep my spiritual life lively and that’s the way I can feel very close to God as well.
Generally I don’t have any interest in law. I liked other subjects at school, but choosed this pass for wrong reasons. Now I learn in my every day life that I can also sacrifice my work, my daily job for our Lord, but it doesn’t make things much easier. My consolation is that I made my professional choise when I was very young and unexperienced in life and that God turns everything for our best.
So generally - my advice for you is to fulfill your daily duties and ask for HIS light to see where to put your next step
God bless.

 

[seeker_of_God]

I guess I understand what you are talking about. I feel I’m in similar situation. Currently I work as a lawyer (plus some studies left), but it’s totally not I would like to do all my entire life! I try go to Holy Mass daily in order to keep my spiritual life lively and that’s the way I can feel very close to God as well.
Generally I don’t have any interest in law. I liked other subjects at school, but choosed this pass for wrong reasons. Now I learn in my every day life that I can also sacrifice my work, my daily job for our Lord, but it doesn’t make things much easier. My consolation is that I made my professional choise when I was very young and unexperienced in life and that God turns everything for our best.
So generally - my advice for you is to fulfill your daily duties and ask for HIS light to see where to put your next step
God bless.

Thanks for your reply and sharing your experience. That’s exactly what I mean. It’s so hard to focus on other things, it seems like it’d be very hard to do other work, when that love for God and desire to serve Him every moment of your life, envelops you completely.

Thanks for your advice.

I’d also appreciate if anyone would pray for me in these regards, as I really feel torn, confused, overwhelmed for everything I have to do, and lazy for not always doing what I should.

The study of the Bible and the Church has been the only enjoyment in my life for quite a while now, this semester. At least I have that. Otherwise I feel rather barren at times. Five more weeks to go.

 

[grandfather]

Thanks a lot for the advice.

Usually, I’d be fine, if I saw that what I’m doing is leading to what I will be doing in the future. But this semester is so hard now because I’m currently a physics major, switching into philosophy, but still have to take the science classes to finish out this semester. It really has nothing to do with anything, and I won’t need those classes for anything. So it is hard to work very hard at them instead of spending more time doing those other things in preparation for what I’d like to do.

You may be making a mistake that is common to many young people, even younger than you. Why should I have to learn Algrbra? I will never need it.

We need to have well rounded educated people, including priests. People specialize in certain disciplines, but need some knowledge about many things. They have to balance the books, be able to intelligently speak to people about history, economics, medical issues, speak more than one language, and engage others in a number of disciplines at least in the basics.

We all have preferences in personal interests, but also need to be well rounded.

Also studying math and physics trains and disciplines the mind. It helps us think logically and also makes learning other topics easier. If you lose all interest in your classes you will probably not do well in them. That would be irresponsible.

 

[barb_finnegan]

How about middle-agers like me? It’s not just the young who are trying to figure out what to do with their lives.

I’ve been working in the business world since I was 19 years old (I’m now 54)-and I’ve HATED IT . I never had any attraction for banking, insurance or retail. The only thing I liked was the Catholic bookstore I worked at for nearly five years. At least there I was ‘in my element’. But I could never figure out the ‘math part’ .

I wanted to serve God in a ‘better way’ than in the business world, but I ‘chickened out’ with regards to religious life (Carmelites). I tried two Third Orders (Franciscans, then Carmelites), but they never worked out.

My ‘life’ is pretty empty right now-I’m don’t have a job, and my older sister ‘roughed me up’ last Sunday when she came to paint the inside of our family home with a view to putting it up for sale. (I still live there) With no job, then no money, and no way to find a decent apartment that won’t cost ‘an arm and a leg’ in rent, I’m not ‘going anywhere’. It’s very disheartening.

So, it’s not just the young ones in college who ask, “What else can I do”…us ‘middle-agers’ ask that, too!

 

[Nick9]

So, I guess my question is, how do you do other work when you are so consumed with love for God? How can you fathom doing something else for the rest of your life that is outside of that? I ask, because I really don’t know what to do.

hi, I suggest you finish your course and maybe see it as a penance. If you quit now it won’t go so well on your record. You sound enthusiastic in your faith, which is good, but remember that even doing things for God can be a dry experience, so if you succeed in this small penance, it will prepare you for later trials.

See it as God’s training of you in patience. I once quit a degree course because it was something I didn’t want to do, but I regret it now because my experience in that year stays with me and was very rich in many ways. Acting impetuously on our emotions, even in a seemingly good direction, is not wise.

You need to discern what to do according to God’s will and not your emotions and for that, it is best to get a spiritual director. You could see your vocations director for your diocese and discuss your options with him.

 

[Nick9]

How about middle-agers like me? It’s not just the young who are trying to figure out what to do with their lives.

I’ve been working in the business world since I was 19 years old (I’m now 54)-and I’ve HATED IT . I never had any attraction for banking, insurance or retail. The only thing I liked was the Catholic bookstore I worked at for nearly five years. At least there I was ‘in my element’. But I could never figure out the ‘math part’ .

I wanted to serve God in a ‘better way’ than in the business world, but I ‘chickened out’ with regards to religious life (Carmelites). I tried two Third Orders (Franciscans, then Carmelites), but they never worked out.

My ‘life’ is pretty empty right now-I’m don’t have a job, and my older sister ‘roughed me up’ last Sunday when she came to paint the inside of our family home with a view to putting it up for sale. (I still live there) With no job, then no money, and no way to find a decent apartment that won’t cost ‘an arm and a leg’ in rent, I’m not ‘going anywhere’. It’s very disheartening.

So, it’s not just the young ones in college who ask, “What else can I do”…us ‘middle-agers’ ask that, too!

sorry to hear that, barb. I do believe that God has a plan for us wherever we are in life and so, even if you have missed an earlier vocation, there may be something else for you to serve God in and be satisfied with. I have missed many apparent calls from God, but am now looking in a new direction and it seems good. I think that God keeps giving us offers. Look at the thief on the cross next to Jesus who got his call at the last hour.

I will pray for you

 

[grandfather]

How about middle-agers like me? It’s not just the young who are trying to figure out what to do with their lives.

So, it’s not just the young ones in college who ask, “What else can I do”…us ‘middle-agers’ ask that, too!

Everyone can serve God in their station in life. You meet people who need God’s grace and love. We are called to be witnesses wherever we are and encounter souls. It is not acceptable in today’s secular world to discuss religion, but people are always in need and we can reach out to them.

 

[barb_finnegan]

Nick9-thanks for the prayers. I really need them.

I’m just tired after the ordeal of last week with my sister.

It’s tough when you don’t have a spiritual director/confessor to ‘guide you ‘round the shoals’ of life. I go to the EF Mass on Sundays (I got ‘lucky’ with ‘extra Masses’ for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days) but the priests only come for the Mass and don’t stay afterwards. I was able to go to confession yesterday, but the priest told me he had been ordained only a year and couldn’t give me any advice on the problem I had at hand. He suggested I write to another, more ‘senior’ priest of his religious community. I have the address, so I might do just that.

I hope I am not off this thread…

 

[grandfather]

I hope I am not off this thread…

I don’t think so. You are also not exactly ready for playing checkers in the nursing home. You hopefully have many years left to love and serve God. Maybe you can look at the daily grind as sacrifice and offer the suffering to God. THere are many blessings to be had wherever you are.