Once again, Thomas Merton has nailed it. Read this:
Suppose one has found completeness in his true vocation. Now everything is in unity, in order, at peace. Now work no longer interferes with prayer or prayer with work. Now contemplation no longer needs to be a special “state” that removes one from the ordinary things going on around him for God penetrates all. One does not have to think of giving an account of oneself to anyone but Him.
I talk to students often about their career choice. Often, they focus on money. I get that…but such a metric is not the best choice for a job. Of course no one can tell another person what type of job they should have. In fact, I think often what needs to happen is that life has to unfold…that no one knows what jobs will arrive. I was speaking with a 75 year old this past week, and he shared how after serving our national military (Air Force) for 30 years, he went to school to get one job…and then years later became a lawyer.
But regardless of job, I think the main idea of what Merton is pointing out is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colosse (modern day Turkey). “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Everything falls into a unity when you realize that you are working only for the Lord, rather than some human boss.
This idea helps keep you clear-headed, even happy, regardless of your circumstances. See, the failure of the search for the perfect job, this silly notion we teach children with two poor questions/ideas: “what do you want to do when you grow up” and “you can do anything.” So, we set people up to be miserable for their lives because they didn’t go do whatever it was they thought of in the 6th grade, nor are they (or anyone else) really able to do anything. Instead, life happens to us and around us. If you realize you are working for the Lord, then you can find satisfaction in a job well done regardless of the work.
The movie Peaceful Warrior said “a warrior finds the love in what he does.” And you find the love by realizing this moment, this job on this day, is all there is. Do it to your very best, as if working for the Lord. Realize that this is the moment to be excellent, regardless of the task.
Do that, and you indeed will experience that unity, order, peace.