What's your calling or passion?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....learning!! Going back to school would make me so happy. I love to learn. I love reading. I wish I could go back but my schedule in no way allows it.

Second is mentoring. I love to help people in any way I can. I seldom have the opportunity to do so, unfortunately.

Those that don't feel they have a passion or calling:

I hear you saying that you are just struggling to make it through each day. I believe that the passion is inside you, but you are too overwhelmed to let it know how to get out. You are too busy just surviving.

Someone posted the following yesterday on FB before I saw this post. It's from a Christian pastor, but I believe you can take what you need out of it, Christian or not.

"There are four levels of living:
1. Survival
2. Stability
3. Success
4. Significance
If a system can keep you focused on survival, you'll never have significance.
Scarcity creates lack in your mind. The Kingdom of God gets rid of scarcity by telling you there's no limit...empowering you to create wealth." ~ Joel Brooks, Jr.

I would add to this: The awesome thing about wealth is that it gives you the power and freedom to move towards significance. Money is not the end in itself. But the money allows you to accomplish your dreams.

Lisa

When I said I'm in survival mode, it's a far cry from living in a third world country. I'm a full time caregiver. I do see success and significance in *small* ways. Once in a great while (these past 3 weeks) they even explode! There are things I do have a passion for but I have to be realistic. It's not the time or place for that to happen.

Like another poster said her interests have ebbed and flowed. For a long time I have liked scrapbooking. I love reading. I like doing crafty things. I don't feel like there's a void in my life if I don't or am unable to pursue a "calling" or passion.

I don't believe that quote. It's like the 70's feminist movement when women were told we could have it all. It is not possible. You have to prioritize. People do have limits and I'm not referring to wealth.

Math. I love, love math. I've taught grades 4-6 and hope I inspire them to also love math. I pray everyday that I'm able to give my kids a good foundation to be successful math students.

[HASH]iscrapcrap, I agree that survival mode is very different for us in the U.S. than it is in a third-world country. I have been in survival. Working a very demanding job, a very long commute - an hour each way, two small kids, feeling like I hit the ground running and no time to breathe until Saturday. Maybe I had time then.

What I quoted had nothing to do with men or women or being a feminist or not. It has to do with life.

And life is very different when you have young children or when your caring for elderly parents or in other challenging circumstances.

Lisa

You got it right.

I have always enjoyed working with JR high age kids in youth group & Sunday School. I never realized it was a calling until I listened to my DD's college president expound on what he looked for in his professors. He, of course, mentioned skill & knowledge of their subject; but more so he felt they needed to be "called" to that college age group. That so resonated with me. I was called to minister to that young adolescent age group.

Today, in my "retirement" I am still doing my passion. I work with young girls who have been sexually trafficked. It is difficult, heart -wrenching work. I come home exhausted with my heart full, but broken every day. I love my girls & I am so blessed to be able to help them walk through their recovery! Beauty for ashes!

For me, it's genealogy.

With genealogy, it's like a historical mystery. I really enjoy the challenge. For example, when researching one of my great-great-grandfathers, after a second marriage (his first wife died) two of his children appear to disappear after the next census. After some digging, it turns out that they were living just over the county line with their maternal aunt and uncle.

I feel like genealogy also gives me perspective. Another great great-grandmother immigrated here from Ireland with her husband, and proceeded to lose her husband and three of her four children within a span of 10 years. It makes the things that I'm worrying about now look insignificant by comparison.

I really admire those of you who have been able to incorporate a career and a passion.

I'm still trying to figure out my "calling"

it probably has something to do with being creative, writing, genealogy, photography and being funny. I have not figured out how to combine the three into something meaningful or useful or that would earn money.

 I hope to figure that out soon.