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Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Grand Teton
Brad, a buddy of mine, sent me a link to an article in the Wall Street Journal from Sunday, May 19, 2013, entitled For Second Careers, A Leap of Faith.
The author Anne Tergesen points to a growing percentage of people over the age of 50 who are turning to a more spiritual vocation as their choice for a second career. While the story focuses on those who have the financial ability to make such a change to "doing good" rather than seeking fortune, the commitment to years of study and embracing a change in lifestyle is clear and strong in the examples given.
I believe this growing desire to do something different may be driven by a series of factors that at some time or another, all of us encounter. How we react to them determines the path each of us takes.
Life Role
For a number of people I talk to who have reached that point in life when the work of building a career is mostly behind them, along with the responsibility of raising and providing for a family, there is a plateau, a resting place in the life journey where what lies ahead is no longer a steep climb, but a level field, and the horizon seems a lot closer than it ever seemed before.
Identity
With the changing roles we experience in our lives comes a redefining of our personal identity. These are closely connected. We may suddenly find ourselves losing one or more of the labels that have defined us for so long. In the world, we may no longer be Doctor, Lawyer or Indian Chief, but find these titles prefixed with Ex-. And while we may pick up new titles like board member or club president, there is a real difference in the feeling it brings us, even if the satisfaction level is high. The same may be true in our personal lives, as we move from father and mother to grandpa and grandma.
Nostalgia
While we were so busy building all that has defined our lives, we may have lost a few connections from our youth. Siblings and cousins have families of their own. Parents and older relatives may be gone. And the safe places and familiar traditions may have been replaced by other events and challenges. One such place may be church or the place where we gathered to worship with others. The call to come back to those places may not be all that spiritual, but may be based on a desire to recapture those lost feelings and that hope for the future we had when we couldn't wait to get out into the world.
Calling
Beneath all these is the very real possibility that we are being called home to God. If we believe that He is always with us in one way or another, and even if we wonder if that could be true, we may encounter a pull or push to go down another road. How do we know if it is real? That's a very personal experience, and it helps to have others to talk to. That is why we go through a process of discernment. But that process doesn't have to be so formal, especially if that nudge you feel is small or uncomfortable. None of us wants to feel like a fool, telling the wrong person about something so private and personal.
Understanding
For me, I found it helpful to talk to those who had journeyed a bit farther down that path before me. I didn't seek them out to find out if what I was feeling was right, but to understand what they experienced, and how they became so committed to listen to that calling voice. What I discovered was that every call is different, but everyone called who chose the path understands the questions, even if they don't have the answers I want.
So, what does it all mean? Will more and more people find a faith-based second career? I don't know. I do believe that many in their middle years have a growing desire to seek out others like them who may also want to ask questions and seek answers. Maybe we can find a way to shift our attention from the youth that drift away from the church to these who need to find someone home when they act on that desire and come to the door. I know I, for one, want to be there to welcome them home.