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FATHER DICK SPARKS, C.S
Vocation: A common calling with unique twists
Finding your vocation in life means discerning what works together for your wholeness and holiness.
BY FATHER DICK SPARKS, C.S.P.
O I HAVE a religious vocation?” Of course you do! But it may or may not be to D priesthood, the convent, monastery, or religious life. Everyone has a vocation, a calling from God. In one sense it is a universal calling—to wholeness, holiness, health, and fulfi llment. In another sense, your particular vocation in life is unique to you. At one time I was very suspicious of folks who’d talk about having a dream or a vision in church or just an overwhelming feeling of peace coming over them as some vocational decision was made. Now I’ve become more respectful that vocational calls come in a variety of ways. Most of the time a person does not have a vi-
Father Dick Sparks, C.S.P. is a Paulist priest ordained in 1978 and loving every minute of it. sion of angels hovering over one’s bed or hear voices from the bell tower. Joan of Arc did. But most of us aren’t Joan of Arc or Saint Francis of Assisi.
A good fit
My best word to describe discerning or fi nding one’s vocation in life is fi t. Does this particular way of life, lifestyle, or kind of work fi t me and my personality? That’s true of the decision to be married or single. It’s true of the decision to go on for higher education or technical schooling or right into the job market. How does each of the options “feel”? What do I “think” will make me happiest? I don’t mean happiness in a simplistic, smiley-face sort of way. But what job or career or lifestyle will give me peace, a deep-down sense that I am where I belong, that I make a difference? This is also true about a church vocation—the calling to be a priest, a
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sister, a brother, a monk, or a lay minister in the church. Does it “fi t”? Do I “belong”? A priest-friend of mine says that years ago someone told him, “You know you don’t have to become a priest! God wants you to be happy. If ‘religious life’ doesn’t sound as if it will make you fl ourish (i.e., be happy), then likely God is not calling you to be one.” My friend says that he simply needed that kind of freeing permission: “You don’t have to become a priest!” The question to ask yourself and to ask God is, “Do I want to become a priest (or a sister, brother, monk, or lay minister)? Does this kind of life fi t me?” It’s as simple and complex as that. How do I know if it’s right for me? How do I know if God wants me to become ordained or vowed in religious life? It’s partly a matter of logic, weighing the pros and cons, fi lling in the blanks. But vocation is also a matter of feelings, intuitions, prayer, checking it out, seeking the input and response of others, and, fi nally, listening to your own heart and gut. Here’s where sometimes one may hear a voice or have a profound experience, a dream, or a vision. But most people do not get such “lightning bolt” answers.
Getting to know you
For most of us who are priests, sisters, brothers, and lay ministers, the process of discernment is identical to that of any person trying to decide what to do with their lives. What are my interests and gifts? What seem to be the needs and talents required in the fi eld I’m contemplating? Can I spend some time visiting with people who live that lifestyle? Observe them? Maybe even “practice” their profession or lifestyle, doing an internship of some kind? All of this data is part of one’s discernment process. There are also counselors—in religious life we tend to call them spiritual directors or even confessors. These folks don’t have the answer for each of us, but they are trained to help us “listen” to God and especially to our hearts and our gut instincts. Remember discerning a vocation is not a once-and-for-all or a one-size-fi ts-all proposition. Deciding to enter a postulant or novitiate program is not the same as deciding that I will become a nun or a priest. Entering seminary or some formal religious formation simply means that I’m willing to take a further or deeper look. Investing a year or two of my life in theological education, spiritual growth, and ministry practice is not wasted time. If it helps confi rm me in my vocational calling, then it’s an investment in
my future ministry and life. If, however, I decide, or the leaders of my community help me decide, that this situation is not a good fi t, then I can comfortably close that door and move on. I won’t be plagued for the rest of life with “I wonder if . . .” regrets. Discerning to “try on” a vocation is a good thing. Time invested in life, love, faith, and learning is always time well spent.
It takes two
Finally, discerning a vocation to priesthood or religious life is similar to discerning a career move or a marriage commitment: It’s not a solo decision! God is a part of it. That’s true, but so are other people. If I think I’d be a good employee at Microsoft or some other major company, the people in that business also have a right to discern whether they want me, whether they think I belong. If I’m planning to ask someone to marry me, that person has the right to agree with me or to say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Discerning what is best for us is largely our own choice, but not solely.
In seminary or religious life, the bishop, superior, novice director, rector, and other formation people are empowered by the church and by their communities to “look us over.” No, we’re not beef cattle or chickens-for-the-plucking. But discerning whether we fi t in and where we best belong is a two-way decision. Do I want them? Do they want me? And how is God weaving things together through all of this experience for my future wholeness and holiness? Whatever you eventually decide—about a church vocation or a wider vocation in life—may it be a good fi t. May you be happy in the deepest sense, fi nding where you best belong. That’s what God is trying to help you discern in God’s own subtle, graceful, loving way.
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Benedictines . .
“Run while you have th he
