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Written by Corina Diaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Argentina
Before going into these lines, I would like to invite you to remember what was your vocation during your childhood?
Now let me tell you my own story: When I was a child, most of the time I used to play being a doctor and healing people, so it was very common to receive gifts that were related to this type of games, and as I was growing up, my family made the fact that I would be a great doctor. At that time, what was a child's play became a reality. At the end of my nursing studies, I studied medicine, but in spite of me not finishing the medicine career I aimed my life at the health sciences. I am currently a yoga instructor and I'm focusing in offering yoga as a way to prevent health diseases, and I’m constantly using my knowledge gained from the past as a nurse as a tool in restorative Yoga. Nowadays, I consider that this was part of the vocation to which God was calling me, and I clearly see how that vocation became part of who I am: My identity.
After reflecting on my own vocation, it reminded me of some words of Paul to the Ephesians in chapter 4:1b-6 “... I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness (MSG)
Vocation is defined as the inclination that a person feels inside to dedicate himself to a certain task. Others also define it as a spiritual awakening that prompts you to lead a way of life. However, Paul has a broad perspective on this word and an important meaning on our identity, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (NIV).
Almost 15 years ago, I accepted this vocation by going to the waters of baptism and following Christ, of course it has not been the easiest part of my life, but I am totally convinced that my life is constantly being renewed in this call of following Jesus Christ, and having the greatest blessing of serving in multiple ways. This is the seal that Christ gave me, that I can show His love to others although things around me are changing and perhaps things are not going well. I am aware of this call of Christ: -Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love-. And also, I think this is the new identity that we receive in Ephesians 4: 23-24, “To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness".
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Written by Nilaurys Garcia, Iron Rose Sister Ministries volunteer in Chile
Labels are very useful to identify spices and to differentiate between salt and sugar in the kitchen. When moving, they help us know where the fine china is so that we can be careful to not break it. They can also identify who we can ask questions when we are at a tourist site, travel office, sporting event, or in other places.
In the same way that labels have their positive aspects, they also have their negative side when they are used to judge.
Opinions are more impactful when they come from those we most love, our physical family, our spiritual family, friends, coworkers, or classmates. And on those days when we feel down, if someone gives us a strange look, we can feel hurt.
Can you think of a time in which the labels of Christian and single might have a negative connotation?
The way in which you define yourself, at times, can be different from the way in which others see you, simply because we are using different lenses. If you do not live your life in the way that the world wants you to and you have not met the world’s standards, like having a partner, a stable job, kids, an academic title, and being highly recognized across your continent, I invite you to take a deep breath and repeat with me, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Eccl. 3:11, NIV).
If you’re like me, others have made you feel bad for being single. I want to remind you that you are important because you are a daughter of God, not because of your marital status. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom. 8:16). You are not incomplete as some may think. You have not missed your chance. And you will not be the bitter old lady with the cats.
If you have suffered for the cause of Christ, if you have lost your job because you decided you could not be part of a certain situation, or if your own family questions why you study the Bible, why you connect to that Zoom meeting, or why you gather with that group on Sundays, I encourage you to keep the faith. I know it hurts, but the reward far outweighs any suffering and we have the great Comforter. “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5).
You are I my prayers. You are not alone. You are worthy and I invite you to repeat, “I am a daughter of the Almighty and in Him I find comfort.”