work/vocation

Vocation

IT COMES FROM the Latin vocare, to call, and means the work a man is called to by God. There are all different kinds of voices calling you to all different kinds of work, and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God rather than of Society, say, or the Super-ego, or Self-interest. By and large a good rule for finding out is this. The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. If you really get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing TV deodorant commercials, the chances are you've missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time you're bored and depressed by it, the chances are you have not only bypassed (a) but probably aren't helping your patients much either.

Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

- Originally published in Wishful Thinking, Frederick Buechner

It has been 7 months since I 'retired' and many ask me what I am doing.  Since I was 'part-time' and I considered learning to paint and express some purpose through painting also my "work" I've always felt puzzled as to what to say in reply, because, in a sense, my work continues.  It seems my days are full of busyness and there are so many things that I feel I need to do.  I'm sure I will 'work' until my last day on this earth!!  I must admit though that what Buechner says about vocation bothers me - while I am glad to do what I do and have done by way of 'work' I rarely feel that I am in any way helping to address the "world's deep hunger" - and I realize that may be different for each of us.  But I suspect it shakes down to the the question of how meaningful to others and God is what I do…does, what I do in anyway bring 'food and water' to anyone's soul and thus enable them to be more.

Much of what I do is enjoyable so I'd say I am living with purpose… with a purpose to accomplish a few worthwhile things before it is too late.  My latest endeavours have included finishing a quilt which I began many years ago for our eldest son.  While I have completed quilts for 3 other sons, two daughters-in-law, a granddaughter, and ourselves….  his just didn't get finished!

I call it "The Tree Planters Quilt" and perhaps the reason I let it sit for so long was because I wasn't sure it was finished.  Since I designed it myself I always wondered if I needed to add more.  Well finally I said, enough and just finished it!  Andrew planted trees in northern BC and Alberta for about 5 summers - hence the tree theme and the name of the quilt. The colours reflect trees, in the stars there are pictures of birds, and overall most of the material includes leaf patterns.

I have also finished two new paintings.  Acrylic on canvas 12" x 20".  I'm hoping they are both finished but I'm not sure what I will think after letting them sit for a week or so.

Marshlands

Passing Over

Plenty of rain and sunshine has caused our little garden to produce abundantly!  We have been eating many greens, trying out new recipes for Kale, loving the little sweet tomatoes, and looking forward to our first English Cucumber.  Yesterday I cleaned out the lettuce, kale and spinach, and picked lots of basil.  It took a long time to wash it all, but we will have plenty of fresh greens for the coming week.


The Garden path is getting re-gravelled and the flowers are incredibly beautiful and satisfying.