Sharing a World of Boundless Wonder

Friday night I wondered 'what am I doing here?'

It wasn't the sort of disoriented feeling you can get from a poorly-timed nap. I knew where I was: at my desk, looking at the computer monitor.

My mind had strayed from the usual browsing through topics for today's post, to questioning whether writing is my vocation. And if it is, what should I be writing?

Vocations, Catholic Style

A vocation is what we're supposed to do "in this life and hereafter," how each of us loves and serves God. Some folks are deacons, priests, or bishops; some are in religious orders; the rest of us are the laity. (Catechism if the Catholic Church, 871-913)

I'm not 'just a layman,' though. Folks in the laity serve God in our "works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body" if our actions are "accomplished in the Spirit." (Catechism, 901)

My Main Vocation

My main vocation is being a husband and father, a Catholic layman who is married. I'm as certain about that as a person can be, and have been since long before I met my wife.

Sometimes the holy Spirit puts on an obvious display, like those "tongues as of fire" at the first Pentecost: not very often, though.

In my case, the 'call' to my vocation came when I was halfway up the basement stairs of my parents' home. An unspoken awareness that I wanted a domestic life appeared in my mind. I haven't had that sort of experience before or since.

Working toward that goal helped me grow closer to my Lord, so I suspect that I was 'led by the Spirit.' It feels presumptuous to say that, and that's another topic. (Catechism, 2091-2092)

Using What I've Got

Everyone's different, unique. That's the way we're supposed to be.

Writing isn't in 1 Corinthian 12's list of spiritual gifts. It's something I'm pretty good at, though: and "...the expression of wisdom..." and "...the expression of knowledge..." come close. (1 Corinthians 12:8)

Besides, writing is something I love to do.

Lately I've been focusing on science: what we're learning about this astounding, wonder-filled creation. Maybe that's not the usual subject for a 'religious' blog, but I never was good at being conventional.

Besides, not paying attention to this vast and ancient world seems an odd way of honoring the Creator.

As John Paul II said, "Creation Reveals God's Glory." (March 12, 1986)


(Hubble Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute, via NASA, used w/o permission)
"Closer view of the "twisters" in the Lagoon Nebula."

Related posts:

• A world of wonder
  • "Lowbrow to Highbrow in Four Centuries, Paleolithic Pitchers, and a Fantastic Elastic Echinoderm"
    (July 5, 2013)
  • "The Three Super-Earths of Gliese 677C; and Unexpected Planets"
    (June 28, 2013)
  • "Getting a Grip about Genesis, Gamma Ray Bursts, and (Maybe) a Multiverse"
    (May 30, 2013)
  • "Robots, a Martian Dune, and Mapping a Billion Stars"
    (May 10, 2013)
  • "DNA, Voyager 1, Habitable Worlds, and the Universe"
    (March 22, 2013)
• Vocations and me
  • " 'A Writer Who is Catholic' "
    (June 9, 2013)
  • "A Billion Ways to be Catholic, and the Spider-Man Principle"
    (December 9, 2012)
  • "The Important Idea, Charisms, and Working With What I've Got"
    (June 24, 2012)
  • "Still Shining in the Darkness: or, Be Not Afraid of Geekness"
    (August 22, 2012)
  • "Vocations for Everyone"
    (December 11, 2011)

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About vocations: (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 871-913, 925-927, 1603, 1658)

"VOCATION: The calling or destiny we have in this life and hereafter. God has created the human person to love and serve him; the fulfillment of this vocation is eternal happiness (1, 358, 1700). Christ calls the faithful to the perfection of holiness (825). The vocation of the laity consists in seeking the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will (898). Priestly and religious vocations are dedicated to the service of the Church as the universal sacrament of salvation (cf. 873; 931)."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary)