The Dynamic of Vocation Part 4
The other resource or tool that I have found helpful in fostering and sustaining my wholeness and integrity in vocation i what I refer to as the “Necessary Conditions” for Vocation. Here, I am adapting the work of Dan Burke, Founder of the Apostoli Viae community, which is a Private Association of Catholic Lay Faithful under Canon Law. Dan studied the lives of the Saints in great detail and discovered several common traits possess or demonstrated by each person. His discovery led him to create what he terms the “Necessary Conditions for Spiritual Growth”. I have found his framework incredibly profitable not only in my spiritual life but in my vocational life (which I see as one and the same!) Dan has written several books related to the spiritual life and I highly recommend them all. Okay, here’s the application of Dan’s framework to vocation:
Adaptation of Dan Burke’s Necessary Conditions
Let’s look more closely at each of these necessary conditions.
Clarity: We establish Clarity by clearly defining and articulating for ourselves our personal Paradigm of Vocation: Identity (Who am I?); Purpose (Why am I here – Passion and Purpose); and Convictions (What are my non-negotiable Values and Principles). I also strive to gain greater and greater clarity as to the status of my Ego:
What are my self-deception strategies?
What are my blind spots?
Where do I need healing and liberation?
What parts of my Self do I need to take ownership of and address?
What lies do I need to overcome, etc.?
As we see, my Necessary Conditions for Vocation are an ongoing formational and developmental effort – especially here in this element.
Community: We establish Community by actively and intentionally engaging others for support, feedback and accountability (though we will look more closely at Accountability as a specific necessary condition in just a moment). My Community may come from that sphere of my “Icons” – those relationships in which I manifest my Identity, Purpose and Convictions in and through the integrating influence and operation of my Vocation: my Spouse or Partner, authentic friendships, fellow leaders, my counselor, coach, mentor or spiritual director and so forth. Community provides the basic needs of connectedness, encouragement, challenge, solidarity and accompaniment along the journey of vocation.
Accountability: In many religious, spiritual or vocational communities, its members define and live out what is called a Rule of Life. In my community, we refer to this as a Plan of Love as it just seems to connect better. In our day and age, “rule” sounds overbearing, judgmental and confining, though in its origin, “rule” simply means “a straightedge or accurately measuring” something. In any case, wholeness, integration, maturity, balance and flourishing just doesn’t happen. Remember my analogy of Structure Determines Performance? I need a daily action plan that helps me put into practice those disciplines (what is termed “ascesis” in the spiritual life) and skills that help me to maintain clarity and community in service of Identity, Purpose and Convictions. We often speak about one’s “practice of leadership”. Practice not only makes perfect as the saying goes, but practice makes for more practice which makes for more practice. I have found that the maxim often stated by the greats of the spiritual life to be true about leadership and especially about vocation: If I am not progressing, I am retreating. Here, I am looking for a unity, purity and consistency of thought, speech and action in all the forums of life.
Take a few moments of quiet personal reflection and consider each of these elements for yourself. How would you describe or name what comprises each of these necessary conditions for yourself? Where do you seem to have a firm hold and where is there opportunity for yourself? NOTE: This is not about judgment, rejection or condemnation. This is only about love, affirmation and blessing.
