So often, we get frustrated with our jobs because we treat them like they are our calling. As a result, we give our jobs a higher level of importance than they deserve.  Then if we have a bad day at work, or our boss doesn’t appreciate us, we feel badly about ourselves.

Admittedly, there are a lucky few for whom their jobs are their calling. But for most of us, our jobs simply are a way to make money, and God’s calling for our lives is something very different.  And that is OK!  There is nothing wrong with your job not being your life calling.

For instance, I have a job which I enjoy. It is pleasant enough.  I work in the legal field, so my job allows me to use my law degree.  In addition, I serve the public, which makes my job more meaningful.  But my job, ultimately, is just a way to make money.  Nothing more.  So, I don’t invest a lot of emotional energy in it.  As a result, if I have a bad day at work, or I don’t feel adequately appreciated for my efforts, that is OK.  The purpose of my job is to make money to pay the bills, nothing more.

Of course, as a matter of self-respect, I work hard and try to do my job well. However, I don’t identify myself with my job or title.  My job isn’t who I am.  And I would hope that in my obituary, my job merely will be a small footnote compared to the other things that I have done with my life.

When you keep your work life in perspective, you then can devote your real mental energy to God’s calling for your life.  And frankly, you may have more than one calling!  I do.  For example, I am first and foremost called to be a good mother to my daughter and a good wife to my husband.  But I also feel called to be a loyal friend to a few trusted people in my life.  And I feel called to write this column for Beliefnet.  Writing this column is incredibly meaningful for me.

The key to being happy with your life is to be able to distinguish those things that you do that are practical activities (making money, cleaning your house, cooking, etc.) from those things that you do that are God’s calling for your life.

We all have to do practical activities. We all have to make money to pay bills, and we have to do the chores that make life more civilized and pleasant.  But our emotional energy should not be directed toward our practical activities.  Rather, our emotional energy and drive should be directed toward those activities which are our calling.

So, at the end of the day, what matters is not whether my boss gave me a pat on the back or a raise for a job well done. Rather, what matters is this:  Have I been a good mother today?  Is my daughter happy and secure?  Does my husband feel cared for by me?  Have I reached out to a friend today to give him or her some support?  Have I made a positive contribution to the world through my column on Beliefnet?

This week, take some time to consider which are your practical activities in life versus your life calling. Do a good job in all things, but give your emotional and mental energy to your calling.  When you realize what is important in life – accomplishing your calling – the irritations that inevitably arise from our practical activities aren’t nearly so frustrating.

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