Vocation

In their reflections, Mr. Palmer and Fr. Martin both touch on the idea that vocation is about embracing yourself and who you are meant to be. They both assert the fact that vocation is a complex idea, encompassing one's personality, career paths and life goals. As a kid, I personally always imagined vocation very simply - either you were called to religious life or called to secular life. No one ever explained to me where these decisions were supposed to come from. Would God tell me or show me a sign as to my life purpose, or would I know inherently?
Fr. Martin and Mr. Palmer both assert that vocation is not something dictated to you by God, but something you find within yourself. Vocation comes from the gifts and talents that you were born with, that God gave you. As we grow older, we begin to understand our callings, our "selfhoods," as Palmer says. From this self-understanding, we can make informed decisions about our lives, our careers, goals and roles in life. Both excerpts also speak of acceptance, accepting who you are and striving only to be your best self, not someone else. While it is good to have role models, from Joan of Arc to Meryl Streep, we cannot be these people. There can only be one you, and it is a shame to waste it trying to be someone else.