Why Am I Here? The Called Life

“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” —May Sarton

“The human good proves to be an activity of the soul in accord with virtue.” —Aristotle

“You will know your vocation by the joy that it brings you.” —Dorothy Day

Course Vision:

This course explores and works with three languages or vocabularies for understanding human meaning and purpose: authenticity, virtue, and vocation.

1. Authenticity is the compelling notion “that each of us has an original way of being human” According to this ideal, I need to be true to myself or I miss the point of my life.”
2. Virtue is the view that our fundamental purpose (or telos) in life is to be a good person—one who embodies key virtues like courage, justice, wisdom, moderation, faith, hope, and love.
3. Vocation is the idea “that we each are called, by God, or by our gifts, or by our preference, to a kind of good work for which we are particularly fitted” (Wendell Berry, 2019).

Each vocabulary provides a distinctive and powerful lens for cultivating a meaningful life. While not incompatible, these vocabularies are often intension. For example, what I consider to be my authentic self (e.g. cultivating an artistic talent) may be at odds with what I perceive I am called to do o rwhat being virtuous requires. Drawing on narratives, essays, films, paintings, and more we will explore the contours of each of these vocabularies.

Then, in light of and informed by these languages, we will examine the following essential questions:

1. Work: Must my job be the primary source of my identity?
2. Friendship: With whom and for whom shall I live?
3. Balance: Is a balanced life possible and preferable to a life focused primarily on work?
4. Responsibility: What are my obligations to future humans and other life?
5. Narrative: How shall I tell the story of my life?

Course Resources:

• Leading Lives That Matter: What We Should Do and Who We Should Be (edited by Mark Schwehn and Dorothy Bass, Eerdmans 2020). This is an anthology of readings. You will need to purchase a hard copy.
• Several essays, short stories, and poems will be provided.
• Hardback journal, 5 by 8.5 inches.