While a majority of people are alive, they are not exactly living lives that matter or that has a purpose. Based on Schwehn and Bass (2020) there are multiple ways with which individuals can lead lives that matter including finding one's purpose and living for that purpose. A majority of individuals find purpose in love, in sharing, and in being there for others as well as being in service of others. Based on the Bible, Jesus, despite being a leader and a teacher to his disciples and other followers he preached of servanthood and how to be good leaders and lead purposeful lives, one must first learn how to serve. Working as well as the daily working experiences provides a means to serve, to be of importance to one's community or society and ultimately get rewarded for it, daily wages and salaries and in appreciation. This ultimately provides fulfillment and knowledge that one's life matters.
However just any work is not enough to inspire such fulfillment, rather, individuals who take up their various vocations have much better chances in finding fulfillment and leading lives that matter. In Christianity, Vocation or "Calling" is often taken up to mean engagement in the service of spreading the gospel. It is a type of work that is a reward on its own (TOW, 2012). Taking up a vocation provides meaning to theologians who see it as the ultimate service to humanity and one another. However, vocation as related to work refers to taking up a job or occupation that one feels most comfortable with. A vocation is therefore a job that an individual is especially attracted to and in which they have an exemplary talent for or one that they are suitably educated and qualified for.
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People who take up vocational work regardless of the income that they get from it are often fulfilled and thereby live lives that matter. God instills the desire for truth, beauty, and love in every person, and through embracing a path of sincerity in trying to find or spread these qualities can an individual identify and live through their vocation (Martin, 2012). Whether it is in science, art, religion, philosophy, or even just day-to-day experience, engagement in spreading or finding love, truth, and beauty is what ultimately brings satisfaction and fulfillment. For instance, artists will often paint based on how they feel (love), how they see things (beauty), and to pass a specific message (truth) in an attempt to spread this feeling or perspective to others who view their works. In most cases, whether or not the painting is bought does not matter to the artist, rather, the appreciation given for the painting is what matters to them the most. This illustrates that the fulfillment and the idea of living a life that matters is the primary goal of the person's vocation as an artist. And this fulfillment is drawn from the appreciation of their work which indicates an impact in terms of spreading love, beauty, and truth.
References
Martin, J. (2012). The Jesuit guide to (almost) everything (7th ed.).
Schwehn, M., & Bass, D. (2020). Leading lives that matter: What We Should Do and Who We Should Be (2nd ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
TOW. (2012). Calling & Vocation (Overview). Retrieved 17 March 2021, from https://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/vocation-overview-article
