True Vocation http://www.inwardoutward.org/?p=658

by Parker Palmer

Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic selfhood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks we will also find our path of authentic service in the world. True vocation joins self and service, as Frederick Buechner asserts when he defines vocation as ‘the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.’ Buechner’s definition starts with the self and moves toward the needs of the world: it begins, wisely, where vocation begins not in what the world needs (which is everything), but in the nature of the human self, in what brings the self joy, the deep joy of knowing that we are here on earth to be the gifts that God created. Source: Let Your Life Speak

I think this sentiment is laudable. It reminds me of the old saying “do what you love and the money will follow.” But my experience so far has been that pursuing your true calling is really hard work and fraught with many obstacles. And I haven’t met many people who feel like they have arrived. For most of us life keeps us busy paying bills, raising our children and repairing our houses.

I think that where sentiments like this get us hung up is that they seem to point us to a finish line to cross. Palmer seems to be saying that “authentic selfhood” is a destination to be reached. But some of the greatest despair I’ve felt was when I looked forward to a hoped for future only to have it dashed on the rocks of reality.

I think a better alternative is to ask the simple question “What’s the next action?” This comes from David Allen’s “Getting Things Done.” Instead of looking for the finish line, focus on taking the next step along the path. Allen calls this horizontal thinking as opposed to the visionary work of vertical thinking. Of course, it’s important to pause now and then to make sure that we have the right destination in mind. Otherwise, you’ll be on the wrong path and taking the wrong next actions. But I think the majority of the work that needs to be done is in answering the question “What should I do next?”

So I think our response to Palmer should not be “What will it look like when I have arrived at that authentic selfhood.” Nor should we expect the money to follow when we do what we love. Instead we should ask “What can I do right now to be true to myself. What can I do this week that I love.” I think that we may never arrive at a destination we imagined. But I think there will be more joy on the journey.

This has left me with the germ of a thought that I would like to research more. Why are we so fascinated by end-times prophecies and speculation. I don’t really know where to go to research the psychology behind it. So I thought I’d ask you, my readers. What do end-times prophecies mean to you? What meaning do they give to your life? Why is studying them important to you? Do prophecies help you by making the future more tangible? Do they make you hopeful or afraid?

I hope to hear from you.

Recently I noticed that there seemed to be an awful lot of these places. So yesterday I drove down the boulevard and counted. I discovered there is a whopping 13 of these businesses in just two miles.

I think that this is a sign of the economy we live in. The cost of my yogurt, milk and gas have gone up, but my earning power has not.

A couple months ago I was with my wife at a debate contest. We sat down at the judges lounge with an acquaintance of hers who travels with the team. I sat uncomfortably through his demeaning talk about the poor clients in his social work and how they take advantage of the system. But then he decided to minimize the pain of the recession by comparing it to the depression. I blew up. People who are comfortable don’t understand the pain lower income people are in as the economy turns south. They don’t understand that the working poor are becoming trapped by the cycle of credit at these predatory lending businesses. 13 of them!

There but by the grace of God go I. These institutions are preying on the working poor. We need to show more compassion for those who are working hard but having trouble making ends meet. I know I’m talking about myself here. But I have also fallen prey to the lure of judging the poor, thinking they are getting a free ride by the system. That they have control of their situation if they would only work hard. It’s not as easy as that. Poverty is a complicated problem. And part of the equation now are these yellow buildings with red trim offering temporary relief at a high interest rate.

It Takes Time

               

Howard Thurman

                

               

It
is true that for many people the demands upon their lives are so great
that only careful planning in terms of a workable time table can see
them through. Even where the demands are not great and overwhelming,
the economy, the efficiency of an established way of functioning, is
undeniable. The purpose of such a pattern is not merely to accomplish
more work and with dispatch, but it is to increase the margin of one’s
self that is available for the cultivation of the inner life. It takes
time to cultivate the mind. It takes time to grow in wisdom. It takes
time to savor the qualities of living. It takes time to feel one’s way
into one’s self. It takes time to walk with God.

               

Source: The Inward Journey

It may come as no surprise, but almost every email sent in 2007 was spam.About 95 per cent of emails this year - up from 70 per centin 2006 - were classified as junk messages, according to a report fromUS security firm Barracuda, Agence France Presse reported.Most of this is deleted by email filters run by Internet providers before it hits inboxes.Barracuda analysed more than a billion emails received each day by its 50,000 customers for the report, AFP said.

A few months ago I was trying to find free sheet music online of which there is plenty of copyright free texts available. I went to a website that offered me music but I had to fill out a survey. It asked for my email address so I gave it the one I use only for registering at sites and gave it a bogus mailing address. Thank heavens for this. I have never seen such an onslaught of spam. We’re talking anywhere between 20 and 40 messages per day.Fortunately, I have really good spam filtering. My mail provider dreamhost runs Spam Assassin on their server which gets a lot. Then my second line of defense is Spam Sieve on the Mac. As a result I only see a spam email once ever couple days. But I think anywhere between 20 and 50 are being filtered daily from my multiple accounts. Thank heavens for good filters.