Good morning, Purposeful Hearts! Last week, we spent our time together setting a solid foundation for our ever-deepening conversations about vocation. We explored the definitions of vocation from both secular and Christian perspectives. Today, we’re talking about the side effects of vocation!
Usually when we start talking about side effects, we’re referring to the super-small print that appears at the bottom of every prescription drug commercial or print advertisement that comes across our screens or reading materials. (I always wonder if the tradeoff of improving one symptom at the risk of developing what’s on the list of side effects sounds worth it to the listener!) But today, we’re taking a perfectly positive perspective on the subject: fulfilling your vocation is a healthy, relational blessing!
At the heart of vocation is the fact that we were created to be relational beings and we were meant to serve others through our connections to them – parent, child, spouse, sibling, friend, co-worker, neighbor. In all of these instances, the relationship serves as the foundation for all vocational work that occurs. I am blessed to serve multiple roles that allow me to encourage vocational development, and it is my work and my purpose to help prepare students, professionals, teachers, and church workers for the vocational work that permeates all of life – not just one’s paid career.
If we want healthy families, we need to know how to communicate well to nurture those relationships. If we want thriving marriages, we need to know how to build strong lines of communication and effective conflict management strategies to work through life’s struggles. If we want to fulfill the Great Commission and witness to a neighbor or co-worker, we need the abilities to relate, connect, encourage, and teach. Relationships are the essence of a God-pleasing life and the essence of fulfilling vocation.
To add to that, we live in a world that is hurting in terms of identity, mental health, personal purpose, and the like. There is a longitudinal study from Harvard on human happiness that tracked people for over 80 years to determine the greatest precursors or influences on happiness. It wasn’t career. It wasn’t exercise. It wasn’t a healthy diet. It was good relationships (Schulz & Waldinger, 2023)! Aren’t those amazing findings?
I don’t know about you, but I’ll take those side effects – even the fine print – any day!
Schulz, M., & Waldinger, R. (2023). The good life: Lessons from the world’s longest scientific study of happiness. Simon & Schuster.
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