People of prayer try to match their life to God. They ask themselves what is God's will and how can they serve him better? A couple of rules help us understand how to live for God. They are related to our vocation in life.
If we are single, we are free to give ourselves fully to God.
If we are married, our service of God is connected to our service to our family.
If we gravitate toward art, or music, or science, or philosophy, use these gifts for service.
St. Francis de Sales puts it this way:
"Is it proper for a bishop to want to lead the solitary life like a Carthusian or for married people to be no more concerned than a Capuchian about increasing their income, or for a working man to spend his whole day in church like a religious or on the other hand for a religious to be constantly exposed like a bishop to all the events and circumstances that bear on the needs of our neighbor. Is not this sort of devotion ridiculous, unorganized, and intolerable?"
http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/439/devotion_is_for_everyone_francis_de_sales.html
As regards gifts and talents, God has equipped us with abilities that help us serve in the unique call he has given us. A delightful story from the life of St. Peter Eymard, founder of the Priests of the Blessed Sacrament, illustrates this:
The Artist
"You're a bright young man, Auguste," the old priest began; "And you have great talent."
The novice's throat tightened as he looked with worry at his idol. He recognized the priest as a saint. He longed to follow in the holy man's footsteps. Hardly a year had gone by yet his novice master was questioning his vocation. Averting his eyes, he mumbled, "The novice master has spoken with you?"
"You wish to give your life to God, don't you?" the saintly priest asked.
"I know he is calling me, Father," Auguste blurted. He couldn't understand why there was a question about his becoming a priest. The call to serve was so clear to him.
"Your clay work is marvelous," the old priest interjected. "How do you form faces like you do?"
Relieved at the change of subject, the young novice began to explain his technique. Perhaps the superior wanted him to shape a new statue, and his worries about the novice master were groundless. He ran on, sharing excitedly how much he'd learned from friends at Ecole des Beaux-Artes, though he himself had failed entrance exams three times. "I'm grateful to serve the community with my art," he finished knowing the call of God often includes an avocation.
"Have you thought, perhaps, that you can serve God as an artist instead of a priest?" An encouraging smile crept across the priest's face and his gentle grey eyes penetrated Auguste's soul.
The novice's fear of being sent away returned. He searched his soul, remembering his failures and the death of his sister. He wondered if perhaps he might be running from them. "There will be time for art even as a priest," he said emphatically, wondering if he was trying to convince himself or Father Superior.
"You know, of course, if Michelangelo had become a priest, there wouldn't be a Sistine Chapel," the old priest spoke on, as if certain of a talent untapped in the young man.
The novice was taken aback. No one had ever likened his poor artistic attempts to such grandeur. He searched the old priest's eyes for a breach of honesty, and realized the reference to Michelangelo was meant to raise his view of the value of art. A surge of hope made his eyes sting. Never before had anyone equated work as an artist with work as a priest. The steady eyes of Father Eymard acknowledged his discovery. "Then you're asking me to leave the community?" said the young novice, no longer afraid.
The old priest nodded affirmation adding, "I'll be looking for the name Auguste Rodin on the monuments of France."
Above all, pray to know God's will.
Rodin, Cast of BustSt. Peter Julian Eymard,
New York, Eglise St. Jean Baptiste
http://imaginemdei.blogspot.com/2011/08/st-peter-julian-eymard-and-rodin.html
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