Comments on: Vocation and Avocation

By: Mikey Bricks

Mikey Bricks — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 23:53:10 +0000

Inspirational!

By: Steven Masters

Steven Masters — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:23:01 +0000

This article is inspiring. Thanks. It gives me and understanding of the opportunity before me.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:33:09 +0000

This part really hit a chord with me.

“So we imagine the first significant work we find is our life call. Sometimes it is; more often it is but a stepping-stone in the path. Thus if we were willing to estimate life in terms higher than money and reputation, more often than usually seems possible we might pass from one opportunity to another.”

As a 25 year old graduate, with a calling to full time Christian ministry, I suffer through day in and day out of dead work, worrying that I’ll be stuck here for the rest of my life. It’s so encouraging to remember the stepping stones on this path. I’ve had to give up promotions, better paying jobs and multiple opportunities that would afford me much money and reputation, but even though my focus is on the goal, I sometimes forget to honor God on the path.

Thank you for the reminder.

By: mens designer t-shirts

mens designer t-shirts — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:41:02 +0000

Another fascinating post guys! I myself run a clothing label in my spare time (it will soon prove as a full-time living). My life, from the outside looking in, probably looks a bit dull because all I seem to do is work, but then again I’m aiming for the world of self-employed freedom, where I will have the last laugh! Ha!

By: Timmy

Timmy — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:44:38 +0000

Andre-
I think you missed the distinction; a “vocation” that cannot pursued full-time is not what this article was about. Instead, it was about “avocations”, which is what you can fill your additional free time up with. The point being, those things that cannot make money (examples above were poetry, etc) may still result in ones greatest achievements.

I think the key to this whole post is not seeing any part of your life as “peripheral”, but on seeing the vocation and avocation as two necessary components of your life. As long as the time that would have gone to an avocation is seen as secondary, it is bound to be wasted.

By: Giles

Giles — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:03:09 +0000

Excellent post, maybe even the best yet. I love the upside down idea of when you feel like one task is taking all of your time then the solution is to add another and then both will be done in the same time. I think this goes to the heart of that over busy feeling that I’m sureis familiar to us all. But I wonder also if thinking about certain parts of our as the margins devalues them? Anyway great post.

By: Andre Sanchez

Andre Sanchez — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:48:27 +0000

Maybe it would be more helpful to think of your “day job” as being the one “on the margins of life”. However, I’m not sure I can really embrace the idea that you should pursue a vocation as a hobby. A vocation that cannot be pursued “full time” sounds strange to me. Of course you have “obligations” in life (starting with the “obligation” to eat), but that’s sort of the point of having a vocation. A vocation is that line of work that you are best suited for (whatever the reasons). If you can’t make a living from it, it’s probably not really your vocation. It’s one thing to spend time at a “day job” in order to earn the necessary capital to invest in your work (buying the food that sustains you while you write that novel), something nearly everyone has to do on some level. But a vocation that is a peripheral aspect of your life?

All is vanity, said Solomon. All is empty. I wonder if the need to change vocation is not more an attempt to escape from a feeling of lack by just shifting attention to something new, hoping the newness will fulfill you.

By: Mike M.

Mike M. — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:28:26 +0000

This post reminds me of a couple of brothers who ran a bike shop. Sell bikes, fix bikes, and occasionally work on the gadget in the back of the shop.

Something called an airplane.

By: Zeno Izen

Zeno Izen — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:23:12 +0000

Love this topic. It’s been kicking around in the dusty parts of my mind for so long now, but you’ve put it out in the front where it can finally become clear. Awesome, you.

Also, it’s amusing that the “Film Director” post has popped up as a related post, because of that classic joke about “but what I really want to do is direct.”

The myth of passion, how many lives has it crippled?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:55:20 +0000

One of the best pieces you’ve published in the year or so I’ve been reading. Lots of good info here. Thank you.