Usually it's a term associated with the ministry: your calling. While most of us have never heard the clear voice of God inviting us into fields like engineering or hairdresser, most of us can point to the moment when we realized that what we were doing was definately not our calling.

You know what I mean. The day when you're sitting in your cubicle, crunching numbers or designing nuclear reactors, things that seem to bring contentment to your co-workers, when you realize you simply can't continue on this course for another twenty years. It happens to most of us. The reason? Expectations.

Here's the problem: During America's youth, pioneers were told to "go west," to seek the unknown, to discover their destiny. And they did. In droves. Men followed their dreams because the present economy simply couldn't support the growing mass of humanity.

As America matured however, along came the industrial age. Factory jobs lured men with good pay (they thought) and little risk (they thought). Still, though, the dreamers persisted. The "Pioneering Spirit" lived on well into the 20th century.

Then came the Depression. Families were ripped from farms. Jobs were scarce and the ones available were paying well below the poverty level. Men and women learned to appreciate any job. And children were instructed to find a good job and hold onto it until their dying day.

That's how it went for the next fifty years or so. You graduated high school, maybe college, found a job with a big company, and held on like a pit bull.

Now, however, with the advent of technology, instant communication, and a plethora of new career options, there is no longer any reason to feel trapped in a dead end career.

Jesus said He came to give us life and give it in abundance. God wants you to be happy. Convince yourself of that fact, pray for guidance, and pursue happiness!

Recent polls show that the average American will change careers-not just jobs, but careers-five times in his or her lifetime. That's amazing! If the average person works forty years, that's a new career every eight years. Often those new careers require formal training or schooling for several years. If the polls are correct, people in thier thirties, forties, and fifties are haunting college campuses on a regular basis. If you visit a local community college, you'll find that to be true.

Now, I'm not suggested that you change your career five times. It's your option. My point is that you can make a change. It's done every day. In fact, most employers have come to expect this. Many appreciate well-rounded applicants who haven't been pigeon-holed into one task their entire working lives.

When you're alone, what do you dream of? When you see a writer, an engineer, a pilot, do you think, "I could do that"?

"All things are possible through Christ which strengthens me." - Ph 4:13

Repeat that verse as often as is necessary. Every day, every hour, every minute. Once you know your calling, it's time to get to work. No one can do that for you. Does it mean going back to school? Get online and get a catalog. Does it mean working as an apprentice part time? Give up the golf game for a while and do it. Don't allow anything, especially not yourself, to stand in your way.

It's not enough to be a dreamer and gaze toward the setting sun. You'll be stuck in a rut until you hitch up the team and point yourself toward the long trek west.