Why a "Christian" Perspective on Life Calling?
This is a new season, and I don’t want to fall prey to these forces. In some ways, I want to return to the primal instincts of my youth when I felt fully alive and most like me.
Photo by Alexas Fotos from Pexels
If you’ve been following me, you know that our family is facing a lot of transitions:
Being fully self-employed after working full-time for EnergyCAP
Moving to Virginia from Pennsylvania this summer
Preparing for our daughter to start college in the Fall
While we’re at it, why not throw more transition on the pile?
Two memories from my childhood stand out as especially significant to who I am. When I think back on moments when I felt fully alive, when I was most myself, these two keep coming to the top. Both are from elementary school.
Editorial Contest
In the first memory, our class is assigned to write an opinion piece for the local newspaper’s editorial contest. We must select a topic and share our point of view. There are no limits on what topic to choose. One could write about improving school lunches or extending recess or making summer longer.
What do I choose to write about? Obviously, what is on the mind of every elementary school student – the topic of abortion! I consider no topic but this, I must write about abortion.
The winning essays are printed in the newspaper, and mine is included.
That is memory number one.
Schoolyard Skirmish
In the second memory, it’s recess and my friend group are playing outside. We come upon a dead bird on the ground. Almost in unison, my friends position themselves in bowing pose and start mock-worshipping the bird.
Immediately something I had heard earlier in childhood comes to mind: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Like the essay topic seemed so clear, what to do next also seems so clear. I kick the bird away from the worshippers…and start running.
The group runs after me, I look back and see the leader of the group closing in quickly. I get to the top of the hill, turn around, and he takes a swipe at me. It’s my first schoolyard fight.
That is memory number two.
Listening to Your Stories
Why do these memories bubble to the top for me? What is it about them that feels authentic to who I am, what I'm about?
I felt a need to speak my truth
Others didn’t like it, but I did it anyway
I liked being attached to a clear point of view
Now here’s where my latest transition comes into play: I want to speak my truth; I realize others may not like it; I want to offer a clear point of view.
Forces at Work
There are internal and external forces fighting against this:
As a person with high Empathy on CliftonStrengths, I can take on OTHERS’ feelings and perspectives instead of staying true to my OWN
As a person with high Artistic interest on PathwayU, I can create and craft things because it’s FUN instead of asking if it ALIGNS
As a solopreneur trying to make my business sustainable, I can attempt to serve EVERYONE instead of narrowing down to my NICHE audience
As someone who has worked in the academic and corporate space, I can do what I’ve ALWAYS DONE and not adapt to a NEW SEASON
But this is a new season, and I don’t want to fall prey to these forces. In some ways, I want to return to the primal instincts of my youth when I felt fully alive and most like me.
Narrow Down the Niche
You may know that I’m a Christian and from time-to-time have created resources from a Christian worldview. I’d like to do more of this. I realize that taking on a more Christianly approach won’t interest everyone, and that’s okay. If you move on, no hard feelings. I can’t serve everyone.
Christian Life Calling
When I first started working around the topic of life calling, I defined
Biblical view: purpose comes from God
Neoclassical view: purpose comes from society or family legacy
Modern view: purpose comes from personal need for fulfillment
And I said, “Do what works for you.”
Christian Life Calling Institute
What this means is that we are renaming our work to the “Christian Life Calling Institute,” where we’ll help Christians to find and pursue their life calling. And we’ll do it from a Christian perspective. Again, no hard feelings if this isn’t for you. It won’t be for everyone.