Is This a Job or a Calling?

Posted on by momentumofjoy

work-in-progressIs this a job or a calling? A few days ago, I would have responded “If you have to ask, you have your answer – and calling is not it.”

Over the last few months, I have felt like I have been stretched razor-thin in an effort to live two work lives – the job and the calling. As many of you have noticed, I have been M.I.A. from the blogging world for quite a while now. The “job” is what I do from 8-5 every work day, and, lately, it has been anything but 8-5. It gets the bills paid, and I am truly thankful for the work, the company, and most of all the people with whom I work. Then there is the “calling.” This is the part where I get to work with people on an intuitive level and see lives, possibilities, and beliefs change before my eyes. It is hard for me to find words to describe the divine connection that flows in those moments. The spirituality of the sessions is not felt in a light undertone but rather an in your face “holy mackerel Batman!” kinda moment. How can you possibly beat that???

Are these two lives really as different as I have made them out to be? Or does this difference fade if I can shift my perspective, my perception, and, ultimately, my choices in how I move throughout the hours of my day?

A couple of days ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a lecture given by a fabulous speaker and author by the name of Marianne Williamson. I’m sure that her name says it all for some of you, but frankly, I was not familiar with her work. She is a student of “A Course in Miracles.” That would be another item on my list of “Stuff I Don’t Know Anything About Yet But Now Want to Learn.” One of my major takeaways from her incredible talk was that any disconnect in your life reflects a disconnect with God’s Love. I am not referring to a “you are a stinker and therefore are getting what you deserve” kind of disconnect. This is about the way you move through your life and how or maybe the better word is if you allow God’s Love to guide your decisions and reactions.

Where does this fit in with the job vs. calling theme? Well Marianne discussed the job and the calling, and then she said something that absolutely broke my noggin wide open. “Every business is just a front for a church.” If the word “church” eeks you out, change it! Maybe think of it like this… “Every business is an opportunity to have a connection with God and others” or “Every business offers endless moments to grow spiritually as an individual and a community.” I really like that last one because it feels so very true for me.

I realized that I had been feeling so pulled apart because I was stressed about the spiritual roller coaster I was riding throughout my days. Way up high in some moments, and hurtling back down to earth the next. The funny part of that metaphor is that like a roller coaster, you never really get to walk away from spirituality and your connection to God (Source, Love, you pick the word!). Faith doesn’t dissolve because you have left your place of worship, you aren’t currently in heavy prayer, or you aren’t meditating. Angels don’t stop keeping watch over you because it’s lunchtime. It doesn’t ever stop. Never!rubber band ball

So if God’s Love is working 24/7, that tells me that every one of those moments is an opportunity to invite Spirit to live in you, to allow God to speak through you, and to encourage yourself to make a higher more loving choice with every challenge that comes your way. Am I telling you to get in the face of colleagues and preach the good word? Not so much, but please know that I’m not judging that either. I just wasn’t raised with that kind of approach. To me, that’s like trying to get close to a butterfly. If you make too much noise, you scare them off. If that’s your bag baby, go for it and own it with joy! I personally prefer a more gentle method of sharing my faith. This is ironic because I am gentle like a brillo pad with regard to everything else in my life. However when it comes to faith, I believe that people should be allowed to move at the pace they choose. It’s their journey, not mine, and I believe that it is their path to choose and follow. But I’m always ready to talk as soon as the door is opened. :)

Ultimately what I trying to convey is that no matter where you are, no matter what you do, no matter if you have a job or not, you always have the choice to live your calling! Speak genuine truth. Act with kindness and honesty. Listen to your guidance and do the right thing. Deal with rude goofball people who push your buttons with as much patience as you can muster, and ask for forgiveness and spiritual reinforcement when that utterly fails. Send love and light to everyone around you, especially those you would rather throw darts at. Pray for blessings for those in your home but also send love to those in your office, school, and all those you connect with each day (and that includes your postal workers because while many think they are grouchy, I assure you that they take a serious emotional beating from their customers every day – I have seen it and I am sure you have as well). And most of all, when you fall down and choose the exact opposite of God’s Love, know that you can make a better choice the next time. And if that flops, you’ll get another chance. Ask for guidance, pray for divine grace, and just keep moving toward the best you that you can be. Maybe you can’t make the best choice on your own, but the awesome news is that you don’t have to. (Please see God’s 24/7 Love and divine grace.)

Stop listening for your spiritual calling because that phone never really stops ringing! God will update your spiritual inbox and to do list as you go. So is it a job or a calling? It may be a job, but if you choose, it can be a calling, too. So make the change and take the call! :)

I have missed each of you so very much and thank you again for all of your wonderfully caring emails and messages. Big hugs to all of you!! Joanna

Phone-Icon

41 Responses to Is This a Job or a Calling?

    • Thank you so very much honey!!! Did you have a fabulous holiday?? I hope the new year has been treating you splendidly well so far and just keeps getting better and better! :) Hugs!!

      Reply

  5. I have missed you Joanna!!!! I believe you have figured out your balance and remember no matter how long you are gone from here, your readers (peeps like me) will be here and ecstatic to see your light sine on us, too! Yeah!!!!! & YAY!!!! (((hugs))).

    Reply

  7. I was hoping to reblog this on my site, but apparently I’m only allowed one reblog! Man! This was an amazing post, really reflected the angst that I need to cure through, and helped me realize that we are all works in progress. :D Thank you sooo much for this timely reminder… :D

    Reply

  8. A wonderfully inspiring message in your email, Joanna. Very inspirational, indeed. Thank you so much for sharing! Love it!

    Very Best Carlene

    ________________________________

    Reply

  9. I was so happy to see your name pop up in my Email today…I have missed you… You have obviously been very busy.

    There is a lot of insight, wisdom and good thoughts in you post today. Not sure how to summarize it as there were so many points but I guess ..I might say just ‘be all that you can be’ and trust that you’re where you should be.

    I liken my method of living and sharing my faith much as yours..It may not ‘shine’ as those who can share more openly…but I think it’s the way God has instilled in me to be. Like you I am available to talk about it if offered the invitation…Diane

    Reply

  10. Very well put.
    I would say that this is a matter of perspective. Yes, any work position can be seen as an opportunity to be a better person.
    But sometimes the work can go on for so long that the worker can lose that connection because of the situation.

    Great to see you, Joy!

    Reply

    • I couldn’t agree more. And at that moment, I think it’s time to spruce up the resume and start praying (and looking!) for something that feels like a better fit for your heart and soul. Love this comment – so so true! :) Wonderful to see you, too, my fantastic friend!

      Reply

  12. Gentle like a Brillo pad ? ! Okay. It’s official, you are made of awesome ! I am this too, have chose to stick with the tough lesson I knew was coming / is still coming.
    When not scrubbing everyone else the wrong way, have been scraping brillo on self. Also painful – der !
    Such a great reminder to laugh, let go and let blessings flow from source. (( Mojo)) xo.

    Reply

  13. Glad to see you back. I’m thinking….if you are called to something, then it would be such a great joy to serve. You may be bone tired at the end of the day, but you are equipped from God to accomplish the call. This is a great post. Thank you Joanna!

    Reply

  15. You’re so right on! I’ve been a student of A Course in Miracles for many years and love its simple message. So glad you’re spreading the message!

    Reply

  16. A lovely lovely post – yes to A Course in Miracles, and I also love the Quaker injunction , Let your Life speak… so we just have to be and to live our truth, which is often enough for others to discern whatever they want to know about God…
    ” Let your light shine before men…”

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s