It is a call that each person has in him/herself. Each one has something that he or she likes to do that has a greater ability to overcome, but this does mean a vocation. There are persons that like medicine until they work in that area, but their vocation is to be a soccer player, only they cannot put into practice their vocation,they excercise the profession in which they were formed.
Today vocation is that which we do, it is that which we feel realized inside of us specifically and inside of our profession. It is a little complicated to understand, but I am going to try to explain.
An example of a youth whose parents wanted him to be a doctor, but this youth wanted to be a priest. He wanted to satisfy his parents decided to open his hand of his vocation, he studies and is formed in medicine. He begins to help people, to attend them and care for them. As father he had the same dreams of caring for persons. Now I ask did he realize his vocation?
Of course not, because he realized the vocation or dreams of his parents, and not his vocation. He will be able to be a great doctor, but what was not realized, not allowed to do, that which was the will of God in his life.
Our vocation does not consist in personal realizations. It is more like this: It is much more than our will, so lived various saints, some were rich, others were very wise, others were common persons, but all dropped everything in order to follow their vocation as St. Paul says: For the cause of Christ, therefore, all that I considered as gain, now I consider as loss. And more still: I consider all as lost before the great good that is the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ. For because of Him I lost all and consider all as trash, to the end of gaining Christ an being with Him. (cf Phil 3:7-9)
This is a vocation realized that is the dream of God for us, it is not to do the will of others, or to do something that gives me money, fame status, because gaining money of or having a good job does not bring the fullness of happiness. It does not fill the emptiness. That which gives us true happiness is God. Of what value is it to gain the whole world and the lose eternal life in the process. In fact, where your treasure is there also is your heart. (cf Mt 6:21)
Vocation also is to realize the will of God with our will and together bring together that which gives us happiness in realizing, in doing, in overcoming.
Seek to know your vocation, that which is your call. Try to hear that which God is saying to you, to where He is bringing you. this is very important for whomever wants to live his/her vocation.
A Big Hug
Wesley Paulo – Missionary CN
translated from Portuguese