Staying Centered in the Journey

I am often struck in my own life how easy it is to get so caught up in my work, the endless to do lists, and the competing priorities and demands at home.  Some days I find that I have lost my center point, that place that keeps me in close communion with God.  I know I have lost this center point when I am trying to get life out of my life rather than give to my life what can only come from within.

I wanted to share a prayer I read this week in a devotional that so speaks to the challenges in the vocational and spiritual journey.

Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us.  Preserve me from faithless fears and worldly anxieties that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from me the light of that love which is immortal, and which you manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we journey each day and navigate our work and personal lives, may we remain centered in this place of God’s unchanging love, grace and faithfulness that keep us safe.

Healing in the Journey

Some days we come to work and find that some unexpected event has taken place, a decision has been made about your group, team or maybe even your role at the organization.  Some times our vocational journey takes a turn into the darkness a bit like this picture here.

When I think about how many hours I spend each week at work and even working on work from home, I am amazed that this is the place where most of my life is spent during the week, month and year.  And since that is true, it also stands to reason that God would often want to use my vocational journey as a major tool in my life-long journey of transformation.  And sometimes things happen in my work life that take me into a place of darkness and confusion.  As I reflect on how that has happened to me many times in my past, I am reminded that God often uses painful packages to bring about water and seeds for my growth, healing and transformation.

This statement is quiet paradoxical and upside down if you ask me – that God would choose to use painful and dark circumstances to infuse into my soul greater amounts of his presence and light.  But if that is the case, and it seems to be in my life and experience, than may we all have greater readiness and willingness to receive and learn from these darker and painful places in our vocational journey – for they are gifts of transformation in disguise.

Waiting in the Vocational Journey

This week marks the first week of Advent for those who follow the historical church calendar. Advent is traditionally seen as a time of waiting, preparation and expectation for how God will appear again in our lives. I was struck this week how many people I know are waiting for something more in their vocational journeys. Some are waiting for more income, more benefits, a better boss, less travel. Some are waiting for a better job or even a job at all.

As you reflect  upon your own present vocational journey, is there something that you are waiting on God to bring, a change, an improvement, an increase?  The Israelites had to wait for many years before they received the promised Messiah.  I guess the bigger question would be how does God want to use this time of waiting in my vocational journey to shape and transform my soul? 

We are told in 1 Corinthians 1 that in our waiting God will sustain us.  If you are like me and most Americans, we do not like waiting.  We want things done now on our time frame and schedule.  So how might God want to use this time of waiting in my vocational journey to mold me, teach me and actually give me something to sustain me in my waiting?

Role and Soul Confusion

Just today I came across this most interesting quote by Sam Keen, an American poet and philosopher about the dangerous ramifications of what I call “role and soul confusion” or role-soul disconnect.

“A society in which vocation and job are separated for most people gradually creates an economy that is often devoid of spirit, one that frequently fills our pocketbooks at the cost of emptying our souls.”

As I ponder this quote, it brings to mind the many days in my past vocational journey when I had a job but it was not my vocation.  When I think of vocation I think of my “true calling” – that thing that is innate inside of me – the thing I cannot not do.  What a sad commentary this above quote and comment brings on the current health of the American workforce.  Sadly I can also say I know so many others who have a great “job” on paper as they pursue the American Dream and yet their souls are dying a slow death.

Jesus asked what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his soul?  So in my present vocational journey and trajectory, am I moving more towards the great American Dream or more simply and perhaps more deeply moving towards finding my true self and my true calling and place in the world?

Financial Stress

Last week there were some economic and marketplace earthquake tremors that rippled through the country.  On Monday, September 12th, Bank of America announced its plans to lay off 30,000 employees.  Yes, that is correct – 30,000.  Then on Wednesday, the government released the new poverty levels for the U.S.  Poverty climbed to 15.1%, a record 46 million Americans living below the poverty line in 2010.  This is the lowest poverty rate in the U.S. since 1993.

So what does it do to our souls when we find ourselves living in protracted season of economic, financial and marketplace stress in our country?  This past week as I was reflecting on the stark reality of a protracted recession, the question that came to my mind again is “am I really committed to the journey of the American Dream or am I committed to the life-long journey of spiritual formation and the transformation of my soul?”

Jesus Himself said “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”  So my 40,000 question this week after the news of this past week is, how might these developments be God’s way of reminding me about which journey I have signed up for?  The American Dream with its illusions of security, peace and comfort or the journey of transformation for which I am promised the eternal Presence, comfort and peace that surpasses all comprehension?

Working Glory

I was recently impressed by a quote I read by a 19th century English poet and pastor about work.  Gerald Hopkins wrote about how our work connects us to the glory of God.

“Smiting on an anvil, sawing a beam, white washing a wall, driving horses, sweeping, scouring, everything gives God some glory if being in His grace you do it as your duty….God is so great that all things give Him glory if you mean that they should.”

So as I settle into a new week of work today, I ask myself what is in my heart today about my work?  Am I dreading it today?  Am I bored, am I divided in my heart?  Regardless of whether we have work today as a doctor, a banking executive, a janitor or looking for work, the attitude of my heart toward my work can connect me to God’s glory.  I believe if we allow our work to mold, shape and transform our souls in our spiritual journey, we can receive work as a place of spiritual intimacy and communion with God – and that too brings glory to God.

Jesus himself said in John 4:34, “‘my food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’”

Vocational Clouds

Some days when I am working I am quite grateful for a sense of calm and peace as I diligently work away at what is before me.  But other days it seems that clouds have rolled in obscuring my vision and sense of peace, clarity and security.  I was struck this afternoon in Colorado Springs how a group of clouds had rolled in blocking our view of the majestic and serene Pikes Peak, a bit like this picture.  Most days here in the Springs we are blessed with bright sunshine and blue sky and can see Pikes Peak for miles away in all her glory. But not this afternoon.  Though I cannot see it temporarily, it is still there.

Somehow I found myself thinking, isn’t this a bit like the days when clouds role into my work life and block and deteriorate my sense of peace and security?  Perhaps my greatest challenge is not to continue working when my vocational path seems smooth and secure but rather to persevere when the temporary clouds roll in bringing gray instead of sunshine.

I was also comforted today by the words of the following prayer that connects with the clouds around Pikes Peak today.

Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who cares for us: Preserve me from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from me the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Soul Shaping at Work

In a 2007 survey by the Department of Labor, the government found that work is where Americans spend the largest part of their 24-hour day.  No surprise right?  That means that if transformation and journey towards wholeness is going to occur in our lives, work is the number one stage for that transformation. This does not mean of course that it does not occur in other areas of our lives also.  

So what does it look like to think of my present vocational journey and circumstances as a the stage upon which God may want to use all moving pieces, people, events and performance to shape and mold my soul to become more like Christ?  After all, am I really on the journey of my soul’s transformation or am I on the journey of the American Dream?  It is about acquiring and making more room for Christ in my soul even at and through my work or is it about acquiring more titles, salary and possessions?

If God does want to shape my soul even through all the circumstances of my work, how might that reality impact how I view my present circumstances, boss, tasks, mountains to climb and even vocational setbacks?

Vocational Simplicity

This past week I was leading a conversation with a group of people around the topic of simplicity in our spiritual journey.  I was struck by Jesus’ words in Matthew 8 where he states, “foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”  What ensued in this conversation was our deep sense of entitlement and success and the American Dream.  In Jesus’ “vocation” he had no where to sleep – his own place to call home, his castle.

In the work world, I get caught up in this is my private office, my window, my first class seat on the airplane.  Some of us are in a place in our vocational journey where we have no place to “lay our heads” during the day, no plow to put our hands to, no keyboard to attack all day long.  Sometimes I fall into the trap thinking that my goal in life is finding my dream job that will feel like the perfect vocational home.  But perhaps I can learn to content myself with the simplicity of the work that is before me just today and being faithful to that in the moment.

And for those who today have no keyboard to attack and would be happy just to have work, I encourage you to remember that our soul is at rest with God alone – not in the perfect job or career path.  My current vocational wilderness is part of God’s plan to shape and transform my soul.

Vocational Mirage

According to a recent survey conducted by job-placement firm Manpower, 84% of employees plan to look for a new position in 2011, up from 60% last year.  This survey addressed those with work who are not content and plan to find greater contentment in a new job.

For some, a new job may be their stepping stone towards greater vocational fulfillment.  For many others, chasing the greener grass may be nothing more than a vocational mirage in the desert.  This endless quest for the holy vocational grail often speaks to the quest for deep fulfillment, meaning and purpose.  People everywhere are trying to figure out how to integrate thier vocational life with a deep sense of inner purpose and meaning.  Is it so wrong to want to find meaning and passion in and through our work?

I don’t think there is anything wrong with this quest at all.  However, I do think that one needs to realize that the true source of deep, inner contentment is rooted in the eternal presence of God in our souls.  Psalm 62:1 says “with you alone is my soul at rest oh God.”  If I am looking for my work to be the first and primary source of peace and fulfillment in my life, then I am only chasing a mirage in the desert.    Perhaps the road to greater vocational fulfillment begins with waking up to the divine presence that resides within us.   And then my work can be an overflow of this inner peace and presence of God.