"When I was pregnant for the first time, my husband and I lived on the edge of the world in Big Sur, California. We spent hours hiking the beaches, cliffs, and canyons between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Lucia Mountains. 'One foot in front of the other,' he would whisper when the path got steep or I grew tired. We couldn't wait to have a little one on the trail with us.
"Strapped tightly to my chest or perched on my husband's back, our daughter logged many miles before she was a year old. I was sure hiking would be her thing. She is 10 now and will tell you hiking is not her thing. I'll admit it bums me out that a Saturday morning hike is no longer met with a squeal, so I've come to label it a little differently: 'What about a Saturday morning adventure?' An adventure, even the kind that follows a winding path around a lake or up a hill, is suddenly much more fun.
"Pope Francis, in his 2019 post-synodal apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit (Christ is Alive), describes the journey of discovering one's vocation as being invited on an adventure. Vocations are not just a part of life; they are how we live out love throughout life. The adventure begins the moment we are born. As parents, teachers, lay ministers, and clergy, we must help our children and those in our care find their path, but the map isn't marked and the route is never the same. Just as trails can be easy, moderate, or rugged, the way children hear, understand, and discern their vocations is different throughout their development. Although each person's journey is unique, the various methods used to discover the path have many commonalities."
In a recent commentary, writer Susan Salaz
reflected on the adventure of discerning one's vocation and of helping children discern their own vocation.
To access Ms. Salaz's complete post, please visit:
U.S. Catholic: Discern vocation with toddlers, teens, and everyone in between (June 2021)
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