Accepting one's vocation in life

I wanted to write something about vocations in general. Of course there is a plethora (3 amigos) of information already out there on vocation (from the Latin word (vocare) which means "to call"

Ps 139 reminds us that our lives were already planned out before we ever came into existence. God knew us from all eternity. We were a thought in his divine mind. We potentially existed before time ever came to be. With this potential existence came a plan. A plan formed by God, from all eternity, concerning how it was that we were going to return to Him *for we were created to be with Him. Ie, How it was that we were going to perfectly accomplish what God set out for us. God had a special vocation "call", a unique plan, for you and for myself long before we ever came into being.

That's important to remember in times of difficulty. Our lives, our pathway was always set before us. Once we were actualized in our mother's womb, the plan was actualized as well. However, as we are all well aware, God does not reveal his plan all at once. We have to struggle, and pray, ask and cling to Him while we try and understand what it is He wants of us. Once we do, we spend a lifetime trying to receive some sort of affirmation that we didn't make a mistake. Many of us run from His plan, we do this by trying to maintain control over every aspect of our lives. This makes it exceedingly difficult and yet we are stubborn and persist in our demand for self autonomy.

Why is that God calls us all to our own certain path? Why marriage, why priesthood, why celibacy for some and not for others? This may not known until we rest with God in eternity. But what we can recognize along the way is that God gives us certain gifts to live out the vocation he calls us to. By recognizing these gifts, we are better able to discern what he called us to, even when we do not understand why.

And yet, in our power to maintain control, we lose sight of the gifts. Recognizing these gifts is essential for our peace, our happiness, our living out our vocation. The only way to recognize our gifts is with a humble heart, and the only way to obtain a humble heart is to somehow find a way to give control back to God. This is done through prayer, self-denial and charity (generosity). A paradox to the world, but yet for those who are able to practice these acts, through the grace of God, comes great freedom. A freedom seldom experienced by those of us who insist on having all the control.

Pray for me as I move towards priesthood that I might understand more clearly God's intent in my life by recognizing the many gifts he has given me to become one of his priests. If God wills it, let it be done. Pray that I might grow in humility. Thanks.