Callings

Emmanuel Katongole is known for his work on violence and politics in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as theologies of peacebuilding and reconciliation. As a Catholic priest in Uganda and professor of theology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, he confronts the complexities of callings in various contexts. He describes his vocational journey as having carried him across different kinds of boundaries, causing him to ask questions such as “where is home?” and “who are my people?” Such questions sometimes create confusion or even bring us face to face with pain, but they can also lead us to a more expansive understanding of ourselves and the world—and to a deeper sense of joy and hope.

 

Bonnie Miller-McLemore’s new book, Follow Your Bliss and Other Lies About Calling, brings forward the nuance and complexities of vocational discernment. She explores the ways our callings can be fractured or blocked, relinquished or conflicted, missed or unexpected. By grounding calling in the realities of everyday life, she reminds us of the importance of being kind to ourselves and practicing forgiveness for self and others. As we realize the myriad ways our callings may be difficult, we continue to find that they are worthy of pursuit and consideration. 

Jason Blakely is a political philosopher at Pepperdine University and author of Lost in Ideology: Interpreting Modern Political Life. In this episode, he reflects on his own vocational journey while helping us think about this tumultuous time in modern political life. Through it all, he reminds us that vocations are always based in stories and that political “science” has more in common with literature and the liberal arts than is often assumed.

John Inazu, author of Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect, is Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He is also a sought-after speaker who speaks about pluralism, the right of assembly, free speech, religious freedom, and related issues. In this episode, he reflects on his vocation as a lawyer and teacher, and shares insights and examples from the classroom to the courtroom. He highlights the importance of honoring the humanity of others and explores how we can all improve in our abilities to navigate diversities and disagree well. 

This bonus episode features highlights from conversations that aired during the fourth season of Callings. In these clips, our guests offer advice for today's students and for anyone who teaches or mentors young adults. Listen to this compilation of insightful and interesting advice from Parker Palmer, Norman Wirzba, Katharine Hayhoe, Shirley Hoogstra, Miroslav Volf, Sarah Bassin, Anantanand Rambachan, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Geoffrey Bateman, and Christi Belcourt.

Christi Belcourt, a Métis artist whose painting “Reverence for Life” appears on the newest volume from the NetVUE Scholarly Resources Project, reflects on the vocation of the artist. In our conversation, she explains how walking gently on the earth is part of learning responsibility and leading a life of integrity. From her perspective, vocation is about recognizing the gifts one is born with, as well as living in awe of the mystery and wonder of life and the natural world. Christi shares with us the techniques, the historical and cultural narratives, and the social justice causes that inform her artistic process. She reminds us that “our hope is in each other,” and describes how mentors helped her learn to value who each person is, rather than what they do.

Geoffrey Bateman, a NetVUE faculty fellow and NetVUE scholar, has written extensively on the topic of supporting our LGBTQIA+ students in their vocational journeys. In our conversation, we explore strategies for mentoring queer students and discuss how to build inclusive practices in vocation work, both in classrooms and across campus. By taking action in local environments, listening for shifts in professional pathways, and honoring all facets of identity, educators can help individuals and communities to flourish. As part of the practice of vocational exploration, “walking the talk” by connecting to community groups and organizations can build resilience and foster relationships with those on the margins, supporting the well-being of all.

Kathleen Fitzpatrick, author of Generous Thinking: A Radical Approach to Saving the University, imagines that higher education can innovate for change in ways that allow campuses and communities to flourish. Throughout our conversation, we explore the benefits of public facing scholarship, digital literacy, and discovering new ways for educators, students, and community members to learn and collaborate. Education, as a calling, is a “generous practice” that can be filled with joy when we work to think with others. Vocation, then, invites us to think about the virtues and values we want to see in our work, and about our willingness to transform.

Anantanand Rambachan’s career as a teacher, scholar, and activist has been grounded in a “thirst for the sacred.” Anant is a scholar of Hinduism and interreligious studies and is professor emeritus of religion, philosophy, and Asian studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. In this conversation, he discusses his experience as a Hindu scholar at a Lutheran institution, the importance of dialogue, wisdom for the different stages of life, and our obligations for justice and the common good. Through it all, Anant’s gifts as a teacher are on display through his cultivation of reverence for students and his understanding of the classroom as a sacred space.

 Rabbi Sarah Bassin works for the world’s oldest refugee agency, the nonprofit organization HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). In the episode, Sarah reflects on the paradoxes of leadership as part of the call to live for the sake of others. She speaks to the power of seeing and acknowledging others’ pain, even while acknowledging and drawing on one’s own pain. Through the lens of social justice, she explores what it means to be a “boundary crosser,” and addresses contemporary events while offering sources of hope in the midst of crisis.