Gary L. Chamberlain’s scientific contributions

I recently asked students in my theology class for the meaning of the words “vocation” and “calling” in an effort to gain a practical understanding of these thematic words among today’s young adults. The class of 30 was evenly divided between men and woman, most in their late teens or early twenties and from differing Christian traditions, Islam, Buddhism, or no religion. Yet, their responses were similar. “Vocation” means: occupation, job, training, skill, profession, career, trade, what you do for a living, even “lack of higher education” as in “vocational training.” On the other hand “calling” had very distinctive meanings: inner direction, following the heart’s desire, duty in life, a force greater than self; what one is meant to do, mission, task God asks you to do; purpose from a higher power. Only one student replied “priest, nun, worker in the church,” and only one student included any notion of a call to service, “God’s drawing me into God’s service.”