I am not called to be a computer programmer.
There are, however, a lot of jobs out there to which people say they have been, “called”, the most common being of the religious field. Others include various charities or service organizations, as well as teaching, instructing, and musical fields.
This is a curious idea in my head, to be “called” to a profession instead of simply picking it.
First in my mind is an analysis of the term itself — called. Clearly, nobody picked up a phone, rang up these people, and told them what to do. They did not receive a letter in the mail dictating their lives, nor a whack on the head from a passing stranger. Many religious figures would no doubt describe “divine intervention” or communication of some form, a miracle, sign, or transmission from on high, as it were. That covers the clergy, but what about teachers and people working for service organizations? Did they receive a memo from God? I suspect many would say their “heart” moved them to do what they do. I don’t know about you, but talking organs freak me the hell out.
Secondly, say they receive one of these ‘calls’ by whatever means they get — why believe it? Why listen to some sort of mental blip that says, “Go be a preacher!”? Unless you had one of those visions where the sky breaks open, a light shines down, and doves alight on your shoulders with olive branches and manage not to soil your Sunday best, why would you not just think to yourself, “Goodness, what a weird thought.”? Are you in the habit of listening and acting upon every thought that enters your mind? I’d be in big trouble if I did.
Or say you pass by a poster in the hallway describing a charitable organization’s efforts somewhere in famine-ravaged Africa and suddenly feel a tug on the ol’ heartstrings to join up — why act on it? Why not just say, “Wow, I’m a human being, that really hits me. Hrm. I wonder what’s for supper?” And yet there are hundreds if not thousands of people who, each year, join such efforts on exactly such whims.
I knew quite a few people like this during my time a Luther College. Most of them were a little strange to start with, so it wasn’t so much of a stretch to think of them traipsing off into the wilderness and fighting malaria with a pointy stick. They were often the sort of people that you’d imagine finding in burlap, sucking the cream from grasshoppers, and generally living it up in a small gully on the edge of a rainforest. But a good deal of them were perfectly normal folks who turned a very sharp corner at some point in their lives and decided on an alternate path.
It does seem that most of the things one can be “called” into as a profession (or a way of life) are service oriented and low-paying. Very few preachers pull down the big bucks, and unless you’re a televangelist with a schmoozey attitude, the white collar and Corvettes don’t match. You don’t hear of Peace Corps volunteers with mansions — it just doesn’t happen. Teachers are some of the worst shat on in this country and yet they continue to regularly bend over for the job.
So, sometimes I wonder if people don’t make up this whole, “calling” thing to justify why they are going to spend their lives doing hard work, getting low pay, and enduring crappy working conditions. It’s like they’re saying to their parents, “Well, Mom and Dad, I would be a surgeon and make millions, but I’ve been called. I hope you understand.” The parents, not to dare go against something as sacred as a call, just nod their heads and resign themselves to a mac’n'cheese child.
Many denominations of the church use calling as a way to transfer preachers from one place to another. “Reverend Willaby has been called to St. Louis.” Bullshit. Billy-Bob has gotten a job offer for a bigger and better church to preach at than Dinkport, MO, and is moving there because he likes the area and the pay better. But it seems almost sacreligious to say a minister wants to get — shock, horror — PAID well. For shame — you’re doing God’s work! So it’s almost like a conspiracy: “Don’t say you’re going for the money, just say you were called there — they can’t say anything to that!” I’m sure sometimes it’s legitimate, but a lot of the times, it looks like a racket.
So…what do you think? Are you called to your profession, or do you simply do it because that’s what you went to school for and it pays ok? If you feel you’re called, why? What event was it that inspired you to choose this path and not something else? Do you question the senility of your decision? If you don’t feel you’re called, would you change if you got a call, or would you just lay off the whacky weed?
The phone’s ringing, but is it a call or just a telemarketer?
OK sorry Nathan, going to do the kath & Kim thing on you.
“Nathan, I have one word to say to you.
INSTINCT”
Maybe more of an instinct, than a calling.
As wikipedia say’s.
‘Instinct is the inherent disposition of a living organism toward a particular behavior.’
I think some people just do what they feel is best for them and they look at their talents and what they care about and decide to just go for it. Sometimes it’s for the experience. Sometimes money and richness doesn’t matter to people. If they can help others or gain experience/knowledge, then that’s what makes them rich. Is it sometimes unrealistic? I guess. But why not? You only live once. Or so they say. I want to preserve the things I care about, namely local history, houses, museums, things like that. I feel there has to be a voice for everything and I’d like to represent that aspect of life. I also have a strong interest in animal health. Right now I’m deciding which path to chose-Veterinary science or history? Heh! Photography is a talent of mine. A gift, I like to think. I define gifts as something you just more or less naturally pick up instead of sitting and studying.
Am I sure this is what I was “called” to do? Spend my life learning about what has already happened or treating people’s pets and perhaps make a comfortable living? Would I learn more about myself or maybe find some comfort in my studies? I guess. They are interests I’ve had for a long time and it’s something I truly care about. It has never left me. I ignored it and tried to focus on better careers but I hated doing that. I always came back to where I started. If that happens more than once, coming full circle, then yes, I believe that’s your calling.
If any of this makes sense, I’m glad
Bec: That’s an interesting take on it…I have never thought of callings as being something hardwired, rather than inspired. It is entirely possible that the ones that take on those jobs are, in fact, predisposed to them, either through genetics or nurture. The question then becomes, are we all “called” to something, but most of us simply don’t match up with that thing that we are predisposed to do?
I don’t know, thats one quesiton that will have to wait for the afterlife if there is one.
But I can tell you, with these kids right now in this house, my motherly instincts are not doing at all well……lol.
But there are a million quesitons that can come from that, are we given certain talents for a reason e.g. work, and if you can be called talented, do you enjoy doing that talent, and if not, why is that person so good at that particular talent.
I’m sure I was not ment to be a prostitute……..lol
No but seriously, my personal opinion is that, some things ither work related, hobby, etc, come so naturally link an instinct to some people, and maybe the others have just not found what that thing is. Maybe these things line up to our career, or maybe the possibility has never happened for that abilty. Then the questions of fate arise to. So I am going to stop because the question are never ending, if any of of this has even mad sence to anyone who reads this.
Bec: I wonder, if you can be predisposed to doing a particular job (whether through nature or nurture), why wouldn’t someone necessarily be talented in the area of prostitution? It’s an interesting thought — and yet whether or not that person ever found their “true calling” or not might depend on a myriad of factors, ranging from social taboos (“prostitution is a sin!”) to lack of opportunity (marries well, never hits the level where it’s necessary, etc.)
I do like your question about, “if the person is so good at that talent, do they enjoy it, and if not, why not, since they’re so good at it?” You do tend to see a lot of people who are probably “burnt out” because they choose to do what they excelled at and now they hate it. Seems rather…unfair, in some ways (despite the fact that I don’t believe in ultimate fairness anyway, but that’s another discussion…)
I am one of those “called” people you are talking about. I do feel a calling towards what I am pursuing in life (to be a Lutheran Pastor). When I was at Luther I tried music education, I tried elementary education, I tried social work and heck I was open to lots of things.
I was so unhappy and confused and that’s why I left Luther. I needed to “find myself” I ended up at a Lutheran camp and I thought and prayed long and hard about what I was going to do in my life. I continued my education and here I am entering my last year of seminary. It is not about the money, there is nothing I can do in the parish that will earn the big bucks. But I know I would be unhappy doing anything else. I keep saying (weather it is to convince myself that this is what I am spose to do or not I don’t know) but I say that I tried running from God but God found a way to bring me back here.
Martin Luther says that it does not matter if you are a precher, teacher or computer programmer you are called to that vocation. Basically you use the gifts that God has given you and you put them to work. Hey if you are good at sex then prostitution might be for you (but I am sure there are better things). If you have a talent for computers and figuring out all the programming aspects why is that not a calling? Does the word “calling” have to have a religious slant to it? Why can’t it be used for everyone?
PS – I do believe that there are people who can “miss” their calling. My dad for example worked in personal for 28 years and he did not love it or hate it, but he did it. It was not until he was retired that he found his call in the kitchen. He is a great cook and he worked as a cook for camps, resturants and now owns a hot dog wagon. He loves it and I would guess that part of him wishes he was a chef for most of his life. But he now has found his calling but some might say that he “missed out” on it earlier in his life.
That’s all from me.
Over the past year I’ve changed my view on many things.
I’m not saying “callings” don’t exist, but I do doubt them more now than
ever. I thought I was supposed to be a teacher, thought I was being
“called” to do it. Then, (in my world) God laughed in my face!! So,
now, one year later, I work in an elevator. I do a job that requires a
high school diploma or the equivalent. Yes folks, that’s right, I have taken
a college education (at the value of $100K) and done nothing with it.
I began teaching and then found out life is crazier than I am, scary thought I know.
However, I took a job to have a job cause I have bills and like to live
indoors and have ended up loving. I think its more about the experiences
you live through and grow from. You are supposed to experience different things
at different times and for different reasons. Therefore, a higher power puts
you in different situations….call it a calling if you will, but its the stage
in life your at at that time….to me at least!