Vocation involves our choice of occupation

in life. Yet, it is more than just "work." It is our response to God's call. A "vocation" is a gradual revelation - of me to myself by God.

This choice of occupation becomes a vocation when we are open to continual communication with God about our life's direction and God's needs. The "call" of God is the invitation to choose that occupation that will be most in line with our ever-growing sense of God's will.

Discernment is the art of listening to our inner selves and learning to recognize (discern) movements that rise from the Holy Spirit. The dictionary defines the verb "discern" as "distinguishing with the eye or the mind." The healthy eye can distinguish between the colors red and green. Healthy minds can distinguish between good and evil.

To discern also implies the ability to detect something that is not immediately obvious. It implies looking at something in a clear way, in a way that involves our mind, heart and soul. A wise spiritual director can detect the stirring of a genuine vocation hidden beneath the confused emotions of a young adult.

In vocational discernment, two things need to be discerned - the underlying motivations, values, feelings and thoughts that go into making a decision and the practical choice to do God's will in our lives. In the first we discern whether or not the above-mentioned aspects of our personality are under the influence of the spirit.

The second involves understanding God's will for us in our lives. Central to discernment of a vocation to is our Catholic theology of "call." Being "called" is a mysterious reality. Most times, when someone is called, they do not realize it or accept it for some time. They make excuses! Scripture is filled with stories of prophets and disciples being called. It also gives some of their excuses! The prophets and apostles all had different responses to their individual "call." The enthusiasm with which they responded to God's call varied. Some were willing to give up everything. Others did not want to respond at all. Knowing how God acted in the past can help is to understand how God may be acting in our life right now!

The tradition of God calling forth members of the community to serve in certain ways is so deeply a part of our Christian and Catholic tradition that it seems to suggest that our "vocation" or "call" is the reason why we do ministry. When asked: Why are you a minister? Why are you a sister, brother or priest, one often hears the response: "Because God called me." Yet, most ministers would readily admit that their "call" did not come in a form similar to those in scripture. In fact each of our "calls," like those of the prophets and disciples in scripture, are unique.

I became a Carmelite because I discovered that God's call to me was more of an everlasting whisper, a realization that in the ordinary events of my life, God was acting and guiding me. God was calling me and continues to do so!

When one feels "called" by God to be a religious, one should not take the call lightly. A person must reflect upon this call by looking at the "patterns" in their lives and their relationship with God.