A Vocation Story by Candidate Ji Choi
Bon Secours Sisters
Why did I decide to become a Sister? My short and simple answer would be that I chose religious life because my heart moved toward it.
This question directed me to a deeper reflection on my own discernment journey. Discerning my vocational call took me almost seven years. During those years, what I tried to do was listen to the voice of God because I had the desire to respond to His call. I believed that it was God who planted this willingness of responding to his call in me, and I was desperate to find out how God was calling me to live.
Along the journey, I learned that the desire deep in my heart was the voice of God. Then my journey shifted a bit to explore my deepest desire. Looking back on my secular life, I had not been feeling fulfilled at work. As I was involved in the parish more and more, I was gradually losing interest in my career, and my desire of doing God’s work got stronger and stronger. I wished to spend all my time for God instead of spending partial time outside of my job.
More importantly, God took away any fear that I had for choosing religious life. In the beginning of my discernment, I was not sure if I could let go of all my possessions, career and relationships with my family and friends. However, gracious and wonderful God answered my prayer of offering my fear to him and moved my heart.
“Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” (Eccl 1,2) Scripture granted me the wisdom to see what is beyond worldly things. It took away my fear and my heart was filled with joy and peace.
The move of my heart was the biggest piece of clarity and it was strong enough to confirm that God was truly calling me to religious life. I believe that religious life will be the true happiness that I seek—not worldly happiness, but the happiness one discovers by responding to God’s call in their life.
