Do you have a sense of vocation?

[BoffinMum]

I am wondering if anyone else feels a strong sense of vocation, and what you feel you are called here to do?

Mine is to make life better for children everywhere ... a very tough calling sometimes, but there you go!

Yes I do. I work in a admin/mangerial role in a hospital. I think that I'm there because that's the door God wanted me to go through and I'm there to put my abilities at the disposal of the patients and the staff. To make things good, and when you can't do that to make them ok, and when you can't do that to stand beside those for whom its fallen apart is my vocation.

That is very heartwarming, lurker.

thanks. I hope we're not the only two with a vocation though....anyone else out there?

Can I first say that I don't believe vocations just involve ministry. But...

I'm currently training as a lay minister, and had this nagging feeling about it that wouldn't go away. I put myself forward feeling very safe because I thought I'd get turned down at selection. After all, I had none of the gifts that usually go with standing up in front of people - and the thought of preaching terrified me! There was a bit of an ARGH! when I was told I had a gift for preaching

There are times I get really angry with God for "putting me through this". One memorable occasion I stood in church and SHOUTED at Him.

But on the plus side, there are MANY MANY pluses, I've developed so much as a person and in my faith as well and I feel humbled that I can do my bit.

People ask me how did I know it was God - I say "well no-one else would have got me to do it, I certainly didn't want to".

Sorry if this is a bit garbled, I was out last night at a tutorial, didn't get in till late , so am feeling shattered...

I have clashing vocations. I am an artist and feel driven to create art which doesn't leave me but I have to surpress it most of the time for now because I am called to motherhood first.

I was defenately 'called' to be a Salvation Army officer. It was in every Bible reading, sermon etc and i couldn't get away from it. When I actually said yes it frightened me to death and continued to do so for the time I did it. But people told me that I was a transformed person on the platform to what I was 5 mins before the start of the meeting.

As for now I don't know where my vocation is. I live 16 miles from church so can't be involved there much. Maybe my vocation is my 4 beutiful children and working as a health care assistant on a gynae ward.

I am with Mary - vocation isn't just about doing stuff in church, it's mostly about doing stuff in the wider world. But like Mary I also feel that my vocation is to serve the church. I am going through the selection process for ordained ministry at the moment and believe me there have been lots of doubts and trying to shuffle quietly out the back door without anyone noticing - but one of the things about vocation is that it's in your blood, it's in you so it's not easy to get away from!

Very happily, I had an interview this week and have beenaccepted to study at a beautiful college, if I get through my big 3 day interview. No-one sane would put themselves through all this unless they had really believed that they had a vocation...

My current vocation is to do the 'ironing' but I am going to let my cleaner fulfill that one for me

The job I have is my vocation. I initially volunteered and now have a 30 hour a week paid job in a nursery that was created as a charitable trust to plant trees and encourage people into Forest restoration. We still do alot of charity work and plant trees in schools with the kids, as well as sell trees to people wanting to revert land back to forest.

Its real earthy stuff and good soul food. It came at the right time and brings many further vocations that I had desire (sense) for in the past. A Perfect vocation for me

That vocation sounds WONDERFUL Papillon!

I am training to be a complementary therapist, I have Reiki III, but I'm taking courses in all sorts of stuff.
I feel I have definite calling to help those who need my help, especially relating to addiction issues, anxiety / depression / bereavement, and recovering from illness, or going through terminal illness.
Something about working with children keeps on 'nagging' at me too though!
I'm glad that many of those who have posted here have managed to make their vocation 'work' for them.

Yes - I feel a definite calling to Christian work with children and families. I've been responding to it voluntarily for years and as of two months ago have taken on a part time paid post as a Family and Children's Worker for my own congregation. And I can't tell you how good it is, doing something that I feel called to do, instead of what I used to get paid for

I have a very strong sense that almost everything in my life to date has been leading up to this point and God has placed opportunities in my path which are now proving to have given me just the experience I needed. It's weird, heady stuff!

I can't imagine doing something other than what I do. It feels very strongly that I 'fit' here and that it is what I am meant to do and who I am meant to be, in my job, my family and my faith. Sometimes it feels like a vocation - sometimes it feels like I just have a lack of imagination