much of a life at all.
In your pursuit of a worthwhile vocation, you will be
tempted to rush past these times. These are the moments you
get interrupted by a colleague at the water cooler or when
your toddler tugs on your pant leg when you have just one
more e-mail to send. These are the times when you get
distracted, when the whole world seems to be plotting
against your productivity. But there is often a purpose in
these moments—to remind you that a calling is more than a
career; it is a life lived well. And the very things you try to
avoid are what you need the most to make this story matter.
I used to think that your calling was about doing
something good in this world. Now I understand it’s about
becoming someone good—and letting that goodness impact
the world around you. Which means that you won’t fully
appreciate the whole story you’re living until the end. But
for now, if you are intentional and willing to appreciate the
fact that you don’t see the whole narrative, you can enjoy
more of the journey.
Now I Become Myself
“What kind of writer do you want to be?” my friend Marion
asked me. I didn’t know what to say. Should I say Salinger
or Shakespeare, maybe pick someone a little more
contemporary, a little more successful? What was the right
answer? I was unsure.