This Week in Church: Vocation, climbing mountains, and the Daily Examine

Welcome to the series wherein I share my take-aways from church. The things that, I think, are beneficial to all of us to know or think about, whether or not we believe in any church-related things.


This week in church we talked about vocation.

Vocation is different than occupation or career or hobbies or whatever. Vocation as in "who are you and what work should you do in the world?" It's kind of a tricky concept, but one that seems to hold a deep truth. Here are some notes that I wrote down from service that helped illuminate the concept for me:

-Who am I now and who do I want to be?

-What are the trails of curiosity in my life? Do I follow them? What happens when I do? Why don't I?

-"Vocation is who we are trying to happen." -I didn't jot down the person who said this! Sorry!

-"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than the excitement and gladness... In the last analysis, all moment are key moments and life itself is grace." -Buchner (emphasis added)

-The pastor told a story of a man who, upon his death, was so worried God would ask him why he wasn't more like other great leaders who came before him, but the question was actually "Why didn't you be [insert his name here]?" So, then of course I get to ask ourselves - am I being Andrea? If no, why not?

This week in church we talked about climbing mountains.

We sing a song regularly with a line that regularly resonates with me: "I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open."

This week, while singing those words, I had a vision of all the women and peacekeepers of the world, marching up the mountain of fascism, sexism, racism, and loss together, with our hands open to the hope and help ahead. We've got a mountain to climb as we resist the darkness in the world, but we can do it together! We can do it with help.

This week in church we talked about Daily Examine.

I've thought about, and probably written about, this idea before, but it's come into my life again so I'll usher it right through into yours: The Daily Examine. This is a practice where, every day, you reflect on what brought you joy/life that day and what took joy/life that day. Do it every day for a couple of months and then have a look back and see what your trends are.

In my year of self-reflection, this seems like a perfect addition.


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