A deeper understanding of the word 'vocation'.

Are you someone who hasn't yet "found" himself or herself? Or do you have loved ones in that situation? There are two recently published books that should prove helpful in the pursuit of an answer to that question.

Professor of Christian ethics Germain Grisez has said of vocations, "The faithful need to think in terms of their personal vocation--instead of their personal agendas." I was intrigued by his use of the term "personal vocation". As a cradle Catholic who had been brought up in the tradition that vocation primarily meant a call to the religious life, I later realized the term had broader implications such as the married or single state.

So far, so good. I have my vocation as a Christian through baptism. I have my vocation as a "state in life"--in my case, a married woman. But where does my job, my career, fit into all this? My personal playing out of any talents or graces God has given me to fulfill my vocation as a Christian?

Fortunately for us, two articulate freelance members of the Catholic Press Association have explored answers to these questions. In two recently published books, Renee M. LaReau and Mary Rose Remington look closely at determining one's personal vocation with thoughtful and challenge-raising explorations of the topic. Each author comes to it from a different angle. Each book complements the other.

LaReau, in her book Getting a Life: How to Find Your True Vocation (Orbis Books, Maryknoli Press), views discerning our personal vocation as a life journey, as a "process of continuing conversion, of continually opening ourselves up to our deepest, most heart-felt desire, which is, ultimately, God's desire for us." LaReau, who has a Master of Divinity, explores her own life's journey, and in that telling gives proof of her main thesis--namely, that we never arrive, but are always travelling. I could see that in my own life as I read about hers. I had eventually chosen to go into the field of social casework, specializing in psychotherapy with individuals and marital counselling for couples. But I had arrived at that decision after experience in various fields of social work--in correctional institutions, psychiatric clinics, professorial duties in colleges. All these were right for me at specific times in my life when I could devote either full-time, part-time, or no time depending on my other personal vocation calls in my home life. LaReau outlines some road rules for this journey--the importance of silence in discernment, of finding people with whom we can address "the big questions" in conversation, the necessity of spending time with and learning from the poor (not only the materially poor but also the "poor in spirit"). She reassures us that those truly seeking the expression of their personal vocation will never "arrive"; they are always travelling. However, a review of our lives will often reveal that we travel in concentric circles.

LaReau's book, geared to the twenty-somethings, is applicable to any age, particularly in our mobile society where one can jump around from job to job, but not always be convinced any move is the right move. She is encouraging: "Though we supply the 'human power' to build our lives, we are guided by the best possible architect.... God stands over our shoulder, lovingly crafted design in hand, guiding and encouraging us to build the life we are called to build. Though we are free to make our own decisions, God holds the vision before us of what we can be, what our world can be." Again, the author stresses it's a relief to know God is in charge of this process of building a life, of discovering our vocation. Yet she reminds us, "We still have our life cut out for us. We have many important decisions to make .... Building a life is a combination of putting in a hard day's work and stepping back to take in the long view, the big picture."

This is where Mary Rose Remington's book, Quest: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Finding Your Life's Passion (Heartwood Publishing, St. Paul, Minn.) comes in. Remington, an established syndicated Catholic columnist and career counselor, has written a step-by-step guide that gives precision to the discernment process at any one point in one's life. A series of exercises in each chapter moves from the inside out. First she helps the reader identify core beliefs in one's life and move from there to belief in one's self, a necessary precondition for finding one's personal vocation. Exercises to determine one's unique gifts carry the comment, "Trust the Divine Creator. You were born and blessed with the inherent talent necessary to complete your mission. You have what you need within you." Remington also provides practical exercises in finances and support systems so that one may be able to make feasible choices when considering a personal vocation.

Remington cites Mother Teresa to make her point that, in order to be passionate about your personal vocation, you have to be involved in meaningful service to others. She quotes from St. Teresa of Avila, "Christ has no body now on earth but yours: Yours are the only hands with which he can do his work, yours are the only feet with which he can go about the world, yours are the only eyes through which his compassion can shine forth upon a troubled world." She helps the seeker set tangible goals, problem-solve, and formulate action plans. She even gives advice for the anxiety accompanying transition planning: "Apply the four Ps--prayer, persistence, problem-solving, and patience". Her own experience in writing and getting her book finally published, as recounted in the May 2004 Catholic Journalist, is an excellent example of these 4 Ps.

I would heartily recommend these two books as gifts for any young adult trying to discern personal vocational goals. I'd go even further--I'd recommend them for everyone wanting to utilize his or her full potential in the service of man and God at every stage of life. I know I'm going to buy copies for several people in my life that I care about. And I'm going to hang on to nay own copies!