NAS: Career as a Vocation

How do we know what God's call is for us if we are focused on our careers? Is it appropriate to focus on that career and then get married/enter religious life later? Or maybe the call/vocation IS the career and you could be single?

Oh this topic, this is something that I can write about. If you have ever read more than a handful of posts on this here bloggity than you know that I am studying to be a nurse.  In fact I am in my last of five years.  It hasn't been easy to get to this point.  To make a very long and grace filled story short I didn't get into the nursing the program on the first try and I failed a class which they miraculously decided to let me repeat over the summer.  Me being a nursing major didn't happen by accident and the Lord's hand has defiantly been in it throughout.  And nursing, nursing is special.  People come to you when they are in a very vulnerable state- they are hurt, they are sick, they are bringing a life into the world, they are trying to be as healthy as they can be.  As a [future] nurse I get to, in a very real way, be Jesus' hands to them- caring for them, cleaning them up, comforting them.  However, beautifully, they also represent Christ to me.  I get to wash the feet of Christ and I get to hold His face and tell him it is going to be ok every time I go to work.  

Nursing Dedication Ceremony

So how does this play into my vocation?  I know I am meant to be a nurse for a reason, that reason, not positive.  Because of all this I have felt for a while that God might have some "professional goals" in mind for me before I settle down with a hubby wubby (do not tell any guy I may end up dating that he may end up getting called that in our wedded life).  Maybe missionary work.  Possibly become a midwife.  Like I said last week, hopefully a Creighton Model Practitioner  Or something else awesome that He hasn't even led me to yet.   And maybe I will be on the path to marriage very soon and then nursing might go to the back burner.   I don't know anything for sure but I do know I am open to whatever He wants.

So do I think I can listen to God's call about my vocation and career at the same time?  Absolutely.  I think both are important.  In fact something that has given me much consolation in the thought of not having to be a full time stay at home mommy (though nothing is wrong with that) is St. Gianna.  Not only was she a loving mother and wife but she was ALSO a physician.  That means she probably worked long hard hours caring for her patients while her children were with nannies and then going home and also being a wife and mother.  She did this and became a saint.  We can have the career and vocation if that is the path of sanctity the Lord has called us to.

Me with St. Gianna's banner in Lourdes, France.

Is it appropriate to focus on a career and then get married later or maybe even spend our whole life focused on a career and remain single?  News flash- our life should be in the hands of the Father's will.  If He is calling us to the above thing then by golly we should do it.  I think the Lord has, does and will call people to spend their life in a career that becomes their vocation and we must always follow the Lord's will in everything we do. 

I look forward to hearing all of you ladies' response to this topic. 

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If you haven't heard yet I am holding a link-up on this here bloggity- Make-Up Link-Up.  Can't wait to see what make-up you wear on a daily basis.  It will be open until October 14th.