Fresh Perspectives: The Gift of Vocation Ministry

A couple of weeks back my cousin’s husband, Frank, was in Ottawa for a course connected to his work as a police officer. This was his first visit to the city and he was eager to get out and see something of the nation’s capital. As might be expected our first visit was to Parliament Hill on what was a warm sunny evening. We parked and made our way down Sparks Street, stopping briefly at the National War Memorial. At the Hill we stood for a moment in front of the Centennial Flame, and then slowly walked around the Centre Block. As we walked and visited, I shared bits of historical trivia I’d picked up since my move to Ottawa two years earlier. Frank asked if I knew where the Canadian Peace Officer’s Memorial (somewhere on Parliament Hill) was located. I didn’t, but we found it easily enough at the back of the Centre Block. We spent some time reading the too-many names inscribed there and then continued walking.

After dropping Frank off later that evening, it occurred to me that my experience of showing him something of Ottawa was a metaphor of sorts for the gift that vocation ministry has been for me over these first two years. When a candidate comes to us what they are looking for is someone to show them around. This is part of discernment. They want to see something of where we live, and get a sense of what it might mean to live in this place. Like Frank on his first visit to Ottawa, curiosity and openness are prerequisites for authentic discernment. And as any traveller knows, a resident of the city makes the best guide… he knows the good and and bad of the place that make it special and give it color.

But as any real guide knows, each visitor gives the gift of fresh perspective. Two weeks ago I knew nothing of the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the back of Centre Block on Parliament Hill. Now I do, and I can share this special place with others. Similarly in vocation ministry, I’ve had the good fortune of seeing the Oblates through the eyes of people who are looking at us for the first time. Their view of things expands mine, and invites me to encounter the Oblate charism in fresh ways that reject the limitations familiarity can breed.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at 4:31 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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