Written by Corina Diaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Argentina
Before going into these lines, I would like to invite you to remember what was your vocation during your childhood?
Now let me tell you my own story: When I was a child, most of the time I used to play being a doctor and healing people, so it was very common to receive gifts that were related to this type of games, and as I was growing up, my family made the fact that I would be a great doctor. At that time, what was a child's play became a reality. At the end of my nursing studies, I studied medicine, but in spite of me not finishing the medicine career I aimed my life at the health sciences. I am currently a yoga instructor and I'm focusing in offering yoga as a way to prevent health diseases, and I’m constantly using my knowledge gained from the past as a nurse as a tool in restorative Yoga. Nowadays, I consider that this was part of the vocation to which God was calling me, and I clearly see how that vocation became part of who I am: My identity.
After reflecting on my own vocation, it reminded me of some words of Paul to the Ephesians in chapter 4:1b-6 “... I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness (MSG)
Vocation is defined as the inclination that a person feels inside to dedicate himself to a certain task. Others also define it as a spiritual awakening that prompts you to lead a way of life. However, Paul has a broad perspective on this word and an important meaning on our identity, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (NIV).
Almost 15 years ago, I accepted this vocation by going to the waters of baptism and following Christ, of course it has not been the easiest part of my life, but I am totally convinced that my life is constantly being renewed in this call of following Jesus Christ, and having the greatest blessing of serving in multiple ways. This is the seal that Christ gave me, that I can show His love to others although things around me are changing and perhaps things are not going well. I am aware of this call of Christ: -Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love-. And also, I think this is the new identity that we receive in Ephesians 4: 23-24, “To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness".