“The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Fredrick Buechner

God’s Call When You Have a Career

So you’re working in the career you chose several years ago. You studied for it. You’ve been promoted; you’re successful. Yet, you have a nagging feeling that you might be called to more. Do you feel the need to make more of a difference in the world? Who says you can’t? Just because you have a job already doesn’t mean it’s too late.

Explore these questions. Spend time in prayer. Talk to God and listen to Him. He might be calling you to ordained ministry. He keeps inviting us to take the road he intended for us. He will not force his will on us, but he will be persistent in asking us to consider a step toward ordained ministry. Whether we accept or not is up to us.

Well, what’s the next step?

ASK.
Pray for a generous heart. Pray for courage to overcome self-doubt, fear and negative thoughts. “Fear is useless, what is needed is Faith.”

LISTEN.
Listen for the call from within: the thought that won’t go away, the inspiration you have had since childhood, that desire for more fulfillment than any career you have considered, the voice of God in prayer. But don’t look for lightning bolts and miracles. Listen for the call from outside: what have others seen in you and said you would be good at? What have you experienced when you participated in the life and ministry of your local parish? What brings you your greatest joy? Have others suggested to you a possible vocation to priesthood, diaconate, or religious life? “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

ACT.
Act on your call. Read about your choices. Ask questions. Join a vocation awareness prayer group. Attend a retreat. Visit a monastery or convent. Share your ideas with others. Talk with priests and religious to find what the life is really like. Become more actively involved in ministry and service. The Vocations Office is here to give you assistance with any of the above. “Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice.”