She wrote about the importance of being ‘authentic’ reaching out for the real you, making a difference, living not just for yourself…
I made a few comments regarding the proper definition of ‘purpose’ and the relationship between ‘purpose’ ‘calling’ and ‘vocation’ which is often mixed up but worth seperating to shed useful light. Here is my comment:
I see (1) purpose, (2) calling and (3) vocation as interrelated but distinct issues. These three are often lumped togther under ‘purpose’ but I think seperating them should shed more light.
(1) ‘purpose’ for me is is more of a general concept: ‘what something has been created for’ it must be simple and easy to explain. A bus is created for transportation, to carry people and things. (2) ‘calling’ for me is more specific, it has more to do with unique gifting and goals. An airport shuttle bus is ‘called’ to carry passengers from the the departure lounge towards the plane. That is all it does and it is specially made to do that. (3) ‘vocation’ is more personal and has to do with choice, enjoyment and past-time experience. An airport bus could have a really good stereo system and inner lights and the manufacturer could offer it to be used for airport workers to relax inside, listen to music and and even sleep inside at night in addition to it's primary use as a shuttle bus.
Without writing too much I propose that issues such as ‘character’ ‘personality’ and ‘spiritual development/formation’ fall into the ‘purpose’ category. For those of the Christian, Islam, Judaic faiths, ‘purpose’ is the same for every human being and that is to project a God-like character. Living beyond yourself. This purpose is the foundation for ‘calling’ and ‘vocation’.
‘Calling’ for a human is that which you are specifically gifted for, burdened about or that which you were trained for. Finding this may be simple or may require a lot of soul-searching.
‘Vocation’ is what you enjoy doing, brings you joy and a past-time experience.
All 3 are required for a fufilled life.
Hajara’s blog post can be found here: http://hajelpitan.com/2013/11/03/what-on-earth-am-i-here-for/comment-page-1/
Hajara Pitan says:Fantastic comment dear Uyi. I appreciate how analytical you are. While I generally agree with you, I differ on some points, I believe that the whole of humanity has a purpose for which we were created and in a general sense, that would be to glorify God (for those of us with religious persuasions), but each individual has a unique and separate purpose. What were you created to do as a person. How in your own individual way will you bring glory to God? In what way will you do it most effectively (because you can find expression of your purpose at various levels and in different ways, there is a way/ways that are most efficient and effective for you as a person that is distinct from the person next to you). I then think your vocation and your calling are vehicles through which you express that purpose, they are also tools towards finding or fine-tuning your understanding of your individual purpose. The dictionary defines “vocation” as a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation” and calling as “a string urge towards a particular way of life or career or vocation”. I don’t feel like we are limited to particular vocations as a result of purpose, I think that with a proper understanding of purpose, whatever job or vocation you are currently engaged in, can be used as a vehicle to express purpose. I don’t believe purpose should wait till you find an appropriate vocation to express it. More important though is “working” these things out, being engaged in self-examination, being mindful that you are not on earth for nothing, you are here because no one else could bring what you can and so you are meant to contribute your uniqueness, your insight,yourself- to humanity. And while you are on the journey, not to be paralyzed by analysis, don’t say “I haven’t found my purpose yet, so I won’t try so and so”, experiment! Live life, find expression, be your best you and as you engage in that journey slowly, surely you begin to find more of you, find what makes you feel truly alive.Thanks Uyi for stopping by, I’m afraid my response may be longer than the post itself. Lol! I am just passionate about this. I have 2 other posts on purpose in my “How high can you go series” I would like to hear your thoughts on those as well. When iron sharpens iron, sparks fly but they both come out sharper.
This is very insightful stuff. I agree about the importance of a person contributing something unique to humanity. But I would not call that the ‘purpose’ of that human being. I am careful not to use the word ‘purpose’ that way, I would rather call this a ‘life-mission’ or ‘life-work’ or even ‘life-contribution’. I prefer to use the word ‘calling’ but not in the limited dictionary definition you quoted.
For me ‘purpose’ for a human being must be linked to the reason for being created, the reason why you are alive, why are you a human ‘being’ rather than a human ‘doing’?
What is a human? The same answer should suffice for every human being…this is ‘purpose’. The starting point to define ‘purpose’ should be ‘what does it mean to be a human being (regardless of your race, colour, age, education)?’
In my terrible analogy concerning an airport shuttle bus, the purpose of the airport shuttle bus is the same purpose for every bus of any size or shape all over the world: to transport things (be it people or objects).
For the airport shuttle bus to “…be here because no one else could bring what you can and so you are meant to contribute your uniqueness, your insight, yourself- to humanity…” would be for the bus to transform itself to a shuttle bus and fulfilling its mission on Earth ! But it would still be fundamentally a bus, purpose unchanged.
In summary: purpose is the same for every human being, but life-work/life-mission will differ. In fact a person can be created for 2 or even 3 ‘callings’ in one life-time but his/her purpose (reason for ‘being’) is never changing and remains only one.