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FOLLOWING THE CALL

by Gerry McCarthy

I always associate a vocation with religious life. But that's probably because I'm Catholic.

     When "Vocation Sunday" comes around in my parish, I can predict what will follow. Although I keep hoping I'll hear a homily that will broaden our perspective on vocations, I usually leave disappointed.

     Homilies on religious vocations are important. But it's crucial we recognize that everyone must think of their vocation. The reason is clear: We live in a culture that ruthlessly measures jobs and careers by wealth and status. The idea of fulfillment, purpose, and meaning is now characterized as bizarrely outdated and something hippies wished for in San Francisco 40 years ago.

     Our schools and governments are failing young people today. That's because we're slavishly following the dictates of economics when it comes to the important task of helping people follow their vocation.

     In his new book The Jonah Factor, editor and publisher Ed Klodt writes that: "More than half of American workers say they are dissatisfied with their jobs, many of them miserably so." He adds that: "Workplace misery is common, and it's destructive. It fuels the purchase of lottery tickets, strains marriages, and contributes to alcoholism."

     Sadly there isn't much of a substantive, spirit-filled conversation on vocations in our faith communities either. Talk to some young people today. They'll speak of chilling responses they receive when they speak of work they'd like to pursue. Too often they're patronized, or saddled with a dreary economics lesson in supply and demand.

     We know people must work at jobs they don't like for good reasons. Sometimes it's done heroically and unselfishly. But given the level of unhappiness people have with their jobs today --it's time for a new public conversation about vocation and work.

     It's rare, but there are testimonies from people who've followed God's call and walked away from a high paying, but unsatisfying job. In his book The Jonah Factor, Ed Klodt writes about advancing to a senior position at an international investment management firm. "It was a dream job in many ways, the culmination of decades of hard work and sacrifice," he says. "I enjoyed financial success I had never imagined, was rewarded with growing responsibilities, and basked in the ego gratification that comes from frequent promotions and corporate officer titles."

     But something was missing. Klodt explains that he grew progressively unhappy. "Increasingly, my generous salary, corporate perks, and upper-middle-class lifestyle weren't sufficient to drown out the growing sense that I was lost," he says.

     Klodt says his new book is a tool for "discerning God's call, to help you experience the joy that has escaped you, and to lead you toward a rich life in harmony with what God created you to do." But let's not be seduced into thinking that following a vocation is like going on a diet. There are steps we can follow, but it's a journey that will likely take some bewildering turns. It's also a journey that will require loads of faith, courage, and stamina to resist cultural attitudes that dismiss the notion of vocation altogether.

     A new public conversation on vocations should start when politicians gather to speak about "young people" and the future of education. But that isn't likely to occur. Instead we must begin a new conversation in our churches, communities, and homes. It can start with offering encouragement to those discerning a vocation. But just as important: Parents and teachers must resist using patronizing attitudes toward work that isn't "professional" --and overcome the urge to measure all work by potential income.

     As Christians we're counter-cultural. That's especially the case when it comes to discussing vocations. When we liberate the conversation on work from the deadly tyranny of economics --we're transforming the culture. We know that's happening when people respond with anger, disbelief, astonishment, and annoyance. But we've raised the impertinent question, and that's where serious change begins.

Gerry McCarthy is Editor of The Social Edge.