The Confluence of Passion and Vocation

Celebrating the glory of the sunset

Even as I write these words I begin to perceive the inextricable connection between them. The word confluence is not used on accident, but rather indicates the river-like flow of our lives, that eventually either leads us from our passion to our vocation, or from our vocation to our passion. I believe that we are all seekers on a journey, even perhaps like the Fellowship of the Ring, we march through our lives with a purpose and a goal, even if we are ourselves unaware of them. Immune to our volition, life passes perpetually onward toward our ultimate destiny, whether we seek it or not. There are many different ways to live, including the allowance of life to dictate our destiny, but this amounts to succumbing to fate, or acting on instinct instead of exercising the power of our free will. For we make our own decisions and play a role in whether our lives are ordinary or extraordinary. At the end we have only ourselves to blame for failures and mistakes, and ourselves to vindicate for any successes along the way. The journey looks different for everyone, and hence we must caution ourselves whenever we feel lead to condemn another’s path. There is no wrong path, only separate paths that lead in converging and variant directions. All lead somewhere. Before electing one, we must surely consider where each path leads and consider how our lives might be made manifest upon them, but ultimately we decide whither we will go and what we will do. Whether a path is good or bad is relative to a certain degree, because we all must choose according to our own hearts, souls, and inclinations, and in many cases our faiths, however there is also natural law to consider whereby a “good” path causes no undue bodily harm, etc. to any and all parties affected by it, including ourselves.

Contemplating the 10m (30 feet) plunge from the bridge down into the Blue “Azure” Pools at a temperature of 5 degrees C (34 degrees F), outside Wanaka

First, the rational approach or finding our passion by way of our vocation. Sometimes we choose a path without fully comprehending why we have chosen it. And if the path were something found in the depths of our minds, something that rationally appeals to and fulfills us, then perhaps we have found ourselves at our vocation. Vocation may be marriage to the man or woman we love or commitment to be a minister of the Church, or even the life’s work that we have chosen – a career, encompassed in the fullness of a lifestyle as well. Given that we have sufficiently contemplated our decision, this vocation can very well lead us to our passion or passions. Passion comes in the daily work that we do and flows directly from this vocational choice. If the vocation and passion have indeed met, then we feel the energy and support of that confluence that will aid us in our every travail or triumph and indeed our vocations will be the origin for many of them.

Enjoying time off at Foxton Beach, North Island

There is a danger in considering our paths too rationally, and hence a caveat for those of us who seek our vocations this way. We may overthink and over-rationalize a decision. An example taken from my own life: “I have an adeptness for mathematics and science, therefore I should study engineering and work in the field.”  This rationalization only proves true if engineering truly fulfills me in the deepest part of who I am, and I find myself lead to become the best version of myself meanwhile I study and work as an engineer. If I do not, then I need walk away and consider other paths.

Secondly, is the option to follow our passion to our vocation. Passion on its own is more unpredictable, momentary, and emotional; however at the same time more exciting! Passion arises when we discover a pursuit or person that makes us come alive. It is a feeling, an emotion, a thought, an awakening of the soul, and it overcomes us much more readily than the arduousness of rational thought. Inasmuch as it drives us and fills us, it also holds the capacity to destroy us. Passion may be sought in a loved pursuit or person, or sometimes surfaces in a moment where we least expect it. Passion can lead to vocation. There are others of us who follow our hearts, observing where they lead, while making some significant decisions along the way, but mostly reflecting on how each sign along the way makes us feel, and whether it continues to stoke that passion.

Passion develops very differently in these two respective manners. If it flows from our vocation, then I reckon it will tend toward an ongoing, long-lasting sort of passion, whereas the passion that develops out of thin air would tend to be stronger, but at the same time more fleeting.

Overcoming misgivings and taking the leap

I suppose that all of this is to say that there is a healthy balance between the weight that passion and rational thought should hold in reference to our vocations. Each one of us is at a different point. Some have chosen their lives and established themselves, while others of us wander the world, uncertain even of what tomorrow will bring. Some have opted for the middle ground, but remain uncertain as to what the future will ultimately bring upon return from a temporary or casual job or pursuit. Life is interesting, and I think that we have something to learn from one another. The last scenario I described readily applies to my friend Jenna, who has taken a year off to teach English as part of the French education system in Tours. Read her entry on the future here:

All in all, life is an adventure, and though there are certainly ways in which we can go about more prudently or recklessly living it, we each must find our own way. And in the end we are the only ones that have to answer to ourselves for the lives that we have led, save for Christians who have the Lord to answer to, but also his support along the way. Would that we would all follow the deepest desires of our hearts, well tempered by the power of our intellect, in order that we might find the most fulfilling lives possible for each one of us. For if each one of us were to become the best possible version of ourselves, how much greater could this world be?

Making a mark on the world

For further reflection on this see Jenna McIntyre's reflection on a similar theme at her blog "A Year in France"

http://jenna-in-france.blogspot.com/2011/01/3-months-remaining-plan-upon-return-to.html