Discovering why we’re here …
Dear Friends,
Some people have a clear awareness of their ‘calling’ – a sense of purpose, and a desire to be and do something in life that draws on their gifts and shares their passion with others. The word sometimes used to describe this is ‘vocation’. Yet when this word is used, it is often limited to certain types of roles or jobs – e.g. someone’s vocation to be a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, or a priest. And it doesn’t usually include the rather challenging role of Prime Minister!
Yet the true understanding of vocation is surely much broader. From a Christian perspective, each person has a unique contribution to make, and we discover our life purpose as we look at the One who ultimately created us. In his best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren says this: ‘If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose … until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.’
The Japanese have a word ikigai which means ‘a reason for being’ or ‘the reason for which you wake up in the morning’. Being clear on our ikigai or life purpose is crucial for our wellbeing. This includes an overall life purpose common to us all, as well as a specific pathway that is unique to each of us. Christians believe that our overall life purpose is to know and respond to God’s love in Jesus Christ, and to follow in Christ’s Way. Within that shared calling we can discover our specific pathway, according to the gifts, skills and passions we have to share with others. This will include serving within the life of the Church. At present, the Church of England is encouraging its members to think and pray about specific callings to new patterns of ‘local’ and ‘associate’ ministry, as well as ordained ministry. We shall be learning more about this at our next Deanery meeting on 21st September – do get in touch if you’d like more details, or if you would like to explore your own calling or vocation further.
I close with a prayer from the Church of England website ‘vocations’ page:
Lord, help us to believe that we are all ordinary people made extraordinary through Your vision and Your power. Take our insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, and give us the courage to see ourselves and others as You see us, with gifts and potential to transform Your world and build Your Kingdom. Amen.
With all good wishes,
John Barr, Rector
Dear Friends,
Some people have a clear awareness of their ‘calling’ – a sense of purpose, and a desire to be and do something in life that draws on their gifts and shares their passion with others. The word sometimes used to describe this is ‘vocation’. Yet when this word is used, it is often limited to certain types of roles or jobs – e.g. someone’s vocation to be a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, or a priest. And it doesn’t usually include the rather challenging role of Prime Minister!
Yet the true understanding of vocation is surely much broader. From a Christian perspective, each person has a unique contribution to make, and we discover our life purpose as we look at the One who ultimately created us. In his best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren says this: ‘If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose … until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.’
The Japanese have a word ikigai which means ‘a reason for being’ or ‘the reason for which you wake up in the morning’. Being clear on our ikigai or life purpose is crucial for our wellbeing. This includes an overall life purpose common to us all, as well as a specific pathway that is unique to each of us. Christians believe that our overall life purpose is to know and respond to God’s love in Jesus Christ, and to follow in Christ’s Way. Within that shared calling we can discover our specific pathway, according to the gifts, skills and passions we have to share with others. This will include serving within the life of the Church. At present, the Church of England is encouraging its members to think and pray about specific callings to new patterns of ‘local’ and ‘associate’ ministry, as well as ordained ministry. We shall be learning more about this at our next Deanery meeting on 21st September – do get in touch if you’d like more details, or if you would like to explore your own calling or vocation further.
I close with a prayer from the Church of England website ‘vocations’ page:
Lord, help us to believe that we are all ordinary people made extraordinary through Your vision and Your power. Take our insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, and give us the courage to see ourselves and others as You see us, with gifts and potential to transform Your world and build Your Kingdom. Amen.
With all good wishes,
John Barr, Rector