Reflection 32: Work Is Not My Vocation

One morning recently, I left for work after a rough start to the day.

Our daughter woke up coughing and uncomfortable. My wife had taken her into the living room to try to calm her down. I had already been awake preparing lunches and breakfast for everyone before my commute. I knew I only had a few minutes left before I needed to leave.

Then my son woke up.

It was about 5:45 in the morning, and as soon as he saw me getting ready to go, he wanted to be with me. He is very attached to me right now, and honestly, I love that. I cherish every moment he wants to sit with me, talk with me, or just be near me.

But that morning, I had to leave.

He did not want me to go, and the truth is, I did not want to go either.

Moments like that hit harder than we expect. It is not just difficult for our kids. It is difficult for us as parents too. I wanted to stay with my son. I wanted to help my wife take care of our sick daughter. I wanted to just be home with my family.

But instead, I grabbed my things and started my long commute to work.

And during that drive, I could not stop thinking about something.

We spend most of our waking hours working.

We wake up early, rush through the morning, spend most of the day away from the people we love, and then come home tired with only a few hours left before the next day starts all over again. For many families, the only consistent time together is in the evenings and on weekends.

And yet society constantly tells us this is success.

Work harder.
Earn more.
Provide more.

Buy the bigger house.
Get the nicer car.
Build the more impressive career.

But something about that does not sit right with me anymore.

Recently I was reading Liturgy of the Land, and it challenged the way I had been thinking about work, family, and purpose. The book reflects on how modern life has slowly reordered our priorities without us even realizing it.

Somewhere along the way, we began structuring our lives around our careers instead of structuring them around our families and our faith.

Providing for our families is good. It is necessary. Scripture speaks clearly about the responsibility of fathers and mothers to care for those entrusted to them.

But there is a difference between providing and over providing.

Providing means ensuring your family has what they need.

Over providing often means sacrificing the things that matter most in pursuit of things that matter far less.

The reality is that this life is temporary. Every job, every promotion, every project, every accomplishment eventually fades. Cities change. Companies change. Careers end.

But our families and our souls are eternal.

As I reflected on that during my commute, I realized something that felt both obvious and uncomfortable.

My primary vocation is not my career.

My primary vocation is my family.

Yes, my work matters. I care about the communities I serve. I care about helping shape cities in ways that benefit people and allow their voices to be heard. There is dignity in that work, and I am grateful for the opportunity to do it.

But that is not my ultimate purpose.

My purpose is not planning cities.

My purpose is leading my family to heaven.

That realization shifts everything.

It changes how we view our time.
It changes how we define success.
It changes what sacrifices we are willing to make.

The world often measures success by income, status, and productivity. But from a Christian perspective, success looks very different.

Success is raising children who know Christ.

Success is forming a home where prayer is normal.

Success is loving your spouse faithfully and sacrificially.

Success is helping your family grow into the saints God created them to be.

None of those things require the biggest salary or the most impressive career.

They require presence. They require intention. They require spiritual leadership.

I am not pretending that any of this is easy. We all have responsibilities. Bills need to be paid. Food needs to be on the table. Work is a necessary part of life.

But perhaps it is time for more of us to step back and ask an honest question.

Are we structuring our lives around what truly matters?

Or have we unknowingly built our lives around something temporary?

That morning with my son reminded me that the time I have with my family is limited. These early mornings, these bedtime routines, these moments of laughter and frustration and growth will not last forever.

And when my life is over, my career will not be the thing that matters most.

The souls of my family will.

So the real question I am wrestling with now is simple.

How do we build a life where work serves our family and faith, instead of the other way around?

Because in the end, my job is not just to provide for my family.

My job is to help lead them to eternity with Christ.