Picking a college major is difficult. I know that I love many things. I want to be a music therapist but there are things that I love the same and can be better at than music. I love music and beleive that it is one of GOd’s greatist gifts. I want to do that. I asked my sister what things I would be good at (she is very close to God) she said music because I love it so much. THan I think that I should do something else because I love foreing languages and am good at them. I’ve been praying about it so hopefully my sister is right and that what she said is my prayer answered.
I finished an entire career in math (PhD) and ended up in Theology (MA). I believe they were both God’s choice for me. I discerned by following a lead which was actually very simple. I learned it from St. Francis and Mother Teresa. I looked around and saw something that I could do well and would do happily. When I contemplated the lives of St. Francis and Mother Teresa, I realized that both of them had discerned their calling this way.
Francis was a merchant, later a soldier, a builder and finally a religious brother. His vocation sprouted from his desire to be like Christ. It was not a matter of where the money was. He would have remained a merchant, if he had wanted money. He knew where he would be happy and where he would do the most good and that was rebuilding the Church. He first began to rebuild abandoned chapels; by the time he died he had rebuilt lives.
Mother Teresa was a geography teacher and a sister. She was happy and good at it. One day, she looked out the window of a train and saw where she would be happier and better, on the streets. She had no intention of leaving the convent or starting a religious society. Her only hope was to respond to a voice that she felt within her. The voice said, “I thirst.” She believed that she could respond to that voice with joy and do it well. She had no idea how she was going to do it; but she left the technicalities up to God.
From these two people, I also learned to leave the technicalities up to God and follow the call to where I can do something that feels right and I can do well. If it feels right and I can do it well, then it is a gift. Remember the parable of the talents. Don’t burry them. Use them. By the way, feeling right means that it has to be a good thing.
I have a daughter who wanted to major in Communication. She got a double degree in Communication and Psychology. She worked at a TV studio creating educational films for children. After six months she discovered a school for autistic children. Having an autistic brother, she knew something about these kids. She felt that she could do something for them by combining her skills in media and psychology. It felt comfortable, even though it meant a lot less money. Today she is one of the happiest people I know. She’s also living back home, because she’s broke and wants to get a PhD, but that’s another story.
The point is that God calls us through our gifts. Respond to your gifts. Don’t ever be surprised if he throws in a new gift later in life. Look at St. Francis and Mother Teresa.
Let’s hope they have upgraded their pay in the years since, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
