Discerning Our Vocation

Vocation as Journey

Our life of faith is always ongoing, growing and changing. Discerning our vocation in life is a journey in itself. This journey is unique to each individual - we will all have our particular valleys and mountaintops, our own signposts and places of rest and reflection. Sometimes we will get caught up in the chaos of traffic, while at other times we will feel like we have come to a standstill.

There will be forks in the road and choices to make about which direction to take. At some stages the view ahead will be clear and uplifting, while just around the corner we may need to 'feel' our way forward. My own journey of discernment certainly contained all these elements.

Another aspect of journeys is that they are all the more enjoyable and exciting when we have companions who travel with us. Companions who can guide and direct us, who share the beauty and the difficulties of the journey and who inspire and motivate us to continue on towards our destination.

These companions can include parents, family, good friends and spiritual mentors. They may also include men and women who have travelled the road before us and inspire us by their lives of faith and love.

One such companion for me was St Francis of Assisi. Francis' passionate and joyful love of God was like a 'spiritual' breath of fresh air for me as I searched for God's will in my life. Francis' radical living out of the Gospel of Jesus drew me down a particular path on my journey. It was the unique charism or spirit of Francis which helped give shape and direction to my vocational journey.

Once my journey took on this particular shape I sought to listen to how God was speaking to me through prayer, through the direction of a 'spiritual mentor' and through the ordinary events of my life. I came to know in my heart that God was calling me to religious life as a Franciscan.

Vocation is a call to a personal and intimate relationship with Christ, He is the guide, He is the way. I have chosen to answer God's call to a life as a Franciscan Missionary of the Divine Motherhood but this choice continues to unfold each day. My journey continues to unfold and each day God calls me to embrace it with faith, trusting that He will continue to direct and guide me on the way.

Sister Monica Weedon, fmdm.

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