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[00:00:37] Thank you. Now let’s get into the show. You are listening to hear and now podcast where we dive deep into faith, hearing loss in lifestyle and talk about all the things that you need to be equipped in this journey we call life. I’m your host, Sophia Lebano, and the show is here for you to find encouraging in everyday life that God created for you.
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[00:01:08] Hello, everybody what’s up. Welcome back to another episode Hear and Now podcast. I’m very excited to introduce another one of my professors slash seminar leaders, Dr. Miller, we spent the most amazing 14 weeks together and vocation seminar, and I’m so excited for him to bring some of his expertise and just inspiration to everybody.
[00:01:26] So, Dr. Miller, welcome to the show.
[00:01:29] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:01:29] It’s good to be with you, Sophia. Thanks for the opportunity.
[00:01:31] Sophia Lebano: [00:01:31] You’re so welcome. So why don’t you take some time to introduce yourself to the audience?
[00:01:36] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:01:36] So Joshua Miller is my name. I’m married to Brooke. We’ve got six wonderful children. The eldest is 21 and is in the army right now.
[00:01:46] The youngest is six. And she’s, um, she’s delight. Uh, they’re all delightful, but a wide variety. Um, and my professional background is very much devoted to helping persons understand how God has designed them uniquely by exploring their stories of deeply fulfilling activity. Um, so that that’s been at the heart of my professional work for, for many, many years.
[00:02:15] Um, about 10 years ago really became more and more interested in. Uh, personal vocation and became convicted that the church’s teaching about personal vocation, although very, very rich and necessary, um, is sort of on the periphery of Catholic life. So a lot of my time has been spent trying to build a culture of personal vocation as a coach and a coach trainer.
[00:02:39] And as, um, as somebody who writes and teaches about the importance of personal vocation formation, And I met Franciscan university in various capacities
[00:02:49] Sophia Lebano: [00:02:49]. Yes. Well, I’ve gotten such great opportunities to work with you. And, um, so many of my friends did as well. So why don’t you tell us a little bit about [00:03:00] your personal vocation story?
[00:03:01] Like how did you conclude that your vocation and state in life vocation? What was your story?
[00:03:07] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:03:07] I I’m a convert to the Catholic faith and, uh, largely through, well through the pro-life movement. That was very important for me. And. I had been in a large public school. University of Wisconsin, Madison dropped out of it, did pro-life work.
[00:03:23] And, um, then what it, I finished that I went to a little small Catholic school called Magdalen college. Yeah. New Hampshire. And, uh, at that time, uh, Just got immersed in the church and met, met a woman there who became my wife. Uh, she was a senior. I was a freshmen at the time, but I’m still older than her by, by several months.
[00:03:51] So I, I explored the priesthood at one point very, very intentionally and decided that I wasn’t called to that. There was no desire there. Um, and I’d given the Lord what I felt was. His opportunity is to pull me there if you want it to. And I was always drawn to my wife, Brooke, from, uh, my freshman year. Um, but I had decided very intentionally that I think the Lord is calling me to marriage.
[00:04:22] And so unlike some folks who fall in love, uh, and are focused upon just one person and that’s what launches them into marriage mine was was. This, I sit up, Lord, I think you want me to be married and, um, I, I wasn’t dating at the time. So I was thinking through who, who interests? My, my, my heart, who sort of stirs my heart.
[00:04:47] And I asked Brooke out, and that was the beginning, um, because you know, the sparks lit and because I knew her, I trusted her character and I’d seen her in action. So I think it was about. Six months later when we were engaged..
[00:05:09] Sophia Lebano: [00:05:09] That’s true. You’re like, I knew that was the one. That’s incredible. Um, so you said you were a convert to the Catholic faith.
[00:05:16] Did you have any beliefs surrounding vocation when you were growing up before converting?
[00:05:24] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:05:24] in the Protestant world where I was raised, We certainly emphasized the value of, of work and one’s unique pattern of motivational gifts and the connection between that pattern and work itself. Um, In some Protestant circles, if you, the claim is that if you really want to love God, you were a missionary or a preacher.
[00:05:48] And so I knew that that was wrong because of my father and my grandson father who trained me in the work that I do today, there they remain Protestant. My grandfather’s passed away. Um, so, so I [00:06:00] never had this idea that vocation really had to do with priesthood or religious life. Um, If that answers your question, I’m rambling a bit, perhaps.
[00:06:11] Sophia Lebano: [00:06:11] No, no, no. That’s absolutely true. I mean, we are discussing in the seminar how growing up, I was only trained that there was four types of vocations and I’m sure you can elaborate on this as well. Why don’t you kind of discuss the difference between the universal call to holiness and like an everyday location versus the four state and life locations that we have?
[00:06:34] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:06:34] Um, I believe that we’re all called by creation to, to holding us that, that, that the Lord by, by our creation gives us a. Uh, movement of the heart to desire him. You know, Saint Augustine says our hearts are restless until they rest in thee. And so even at the level of creation, there is, um, an innate desire that we have for relationship with God.
[00:06:59] But when we’re baptized. The university vocation to holiness becomes emblazoned in our soul because we become engrafted in the body of Christ. And so, um, I think that’s the church teaches that that’s where the call to holiness begins in an explicit way through a baptism. Um, I think it’s important that we understand the universal call to holiness in terms of, uh, of personal vocation.
[00:07:24] Because if we don’t, then we can think of it as, um, As sort of a common way that we all should, should, should be holy. Um, and epic, there’s a danger there. So there’s a universal call to holiness. Absolutely. But we, we, we must recognize that each person is going to pursue that holiness in a slightly different way.
[00:07:47] Although there are commonalities, of course, prayer, sacraments are all vital to pursuing holiness, but we’ve got to avoid falling into the trap that, that holiness simply means. Standard church oriented activities like mass and prayer and mission trips, et cetera. When we do that, then we neglect the uniqueness of the person.
[00:08:06] I believe. Absolutely.
[00:08:08] Sophia Lebano: [00:08:08] So that kind of leads me to the next question on motivational design. And this is something that we’ve spent a long time identifying, and it’s probably been one of the most life-changing things I’ve ever come to realize about myself,
[00:08:20] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:08:20] praise the Lord, Sophia.
[00:08:22] Sophia Lebano: [00:08:22] just remember your stories and talking about it enough to people.
[00:08:26] So let’s, let’s kind of break it down for people. How did you come to know motivational design and what really is it for people to start to identify about themselves?
[00:08:37] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:08:37] I grew up in a family where we were, we’ve always been fascinated with, with the uniqueness of the person. And so, um, my, my granddad in the late fifties and early sixties, uh, began the work that I now do.
[00:08:53] And that is, he was working with one of the first career counselors, a guy named Bernard Haldane and Haldane had had. [00:09:00] And notice that when people talk about stories of success, that there are common abilities there. And he explored that narrative and recognize that there’s a whole intricate, consistent pattern of motivation.
[00:09:14] Um, and so my, my father had done that work in, when I was in high school. I graduated high school in 1990, and I’d always loved stories. Sophia. And I, I felt very distinctly called to that work. Um, so there’s this a lot of backstory there, but I’ve just always been deeply fascinated. Yeah. With how people share stories of being deeply involved in activity that they enjoy doing that they believe they do well, that there’s this wonderful, intricate, consistent pattern of motivational design.
[00:09:51] Um, and. It’s it’s there in kids who can’t even speak, uh, as soon as the kids start to speak, there’s, there’s a kind of unique desire for a kind of joy in every person. And the thing about those fulfillment stories is that we’re tracking a trajectory of joy, but it’s not just self fulfillment and pleasure.
[00:10:14] It’s, it’s a joy that fulfills us deeply, and we’re also making contribution. Um, So the motivation is, is a desire to basically pour oneself out in action. It’s both fulfilling, but also a great gift.
[00:10:35] Sophia Lebano: [00:10:35] Yeah. I mean, like I said, motivational design, it was so cool. And what would you say to people who don’t have the opportunity to join the semester or seminar?
[00:10:45] Um, how can we start to do those fulfillment stories and identify our own motivational design?
[00:10:51] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:10:51] That is a great question. I’m very happy to answer it because, uh, although assessments are valuable and I’ve worked with them, helped to develop an assessment. Um, what I’ve discovered over the last couple of years is the simple.
[00:11:09] Beautiful power of people sharing with one another, their stories of fulfillment. We did that in the seminar as you well know. And so I would say to your listeners, this, that most of us haven’t taken the time to really reflect upon or speak about our stories of fulfillment. And we define them very simply something you’ve enjoyed doing that you believe you’ve done well, you know, as you define, well, it does not have to be.
[00:11:37] Some great contemporary success, 4.0 grade point average, you know, winning the race gold medals, but just simple human joy inactivity, and, uh, identifying that. And then, you know, getting with a friend, a mentor, a confidant, a family member, and having that family member simply [00:12:00] ask about the details of action.
[00:12:02] No, God is a God of activity and we expressed our design in action. And so in these stories, we’re simply asking what the person was, did, uh, opened up the verbs. Uh, we get detail, and then we ask what’s most satisfying about that and the person shares and it’s it’s ideal when the person listening. Um, simply reflect back what he or she noticed we hunger for, for being known, for being recognized and not just because of our favorite sports teams or where we go to school or where we are from, in terms of, of, uh, geography or family of origin.
[00:12:48] But we want to be recognized as unique persons and. These kinds of stories, which described that the unique person in action, when, when, when we hear them and draw them out and we reflect back what we notice about the person it’s very, very life-affirming and very simple. So as we did in class, when most people break up into pairs and they open up one another stories, um, and then, and then point out what they notice.
[00:13:17] It’s very, very affirming. Um, oftentimes people will notice. In themselves and in the other, uh, just, you know, a flash of beautiful gift, you know, the heart lights up, smile, lights up. So this is a lot of good that can happen there. I’d love to hear about your experience. And so I want to just, would you share a bit of your experience too, would be delighted to hear that?
[00:13:43] I think your listeners to one, two.
[00:13:46] Sophia Lebano: [00:13:46] Yeah. I, I tend to not talk about myself in these situations on the podcast. I always let my guests open up. So thank you. Um, But, I mean, in terms of pairing up with somebody and having the opportunity to talk to them, um, you know, it was somebody that I really didn’t spend a ton of time within the seminar.
[00:14:04] And even just that brief glimpse of looking at what their life is like, and that’s short 10 minutes, it’s, you know, situation out. We had, um, It really brings like a sense of intimacy and just friendship to people. And it makes me think of like some of the games that you play. Like if you’re doing this with one of your best friends, like you are really able to tap into them and aside that they might not share.
[00:14:31] And, you know, when I did it and I was able to share my stories, I was like, wow, I really do feel seen because you know, my partner was like, I see this and this and this about you. Um, and it’s not a, a selfish thing when the pointing back. And you did talk about this a lot and that, isn’t another question I had to ask you.
[00:14:51] Um, Is when we’re doing these, how do we combat those feelings of selfishness? If we’re trying to identify all these things about [00:15:00] ourselves, um, and you know, you really did change the perspective on that, that these are all of our God-given gifts, and we have the dignity to talk about this. Um, and I can’t emphasize that about it.
[00:15:14] I’m so glad you brought that up and I’m sure you have more to talk about on that as well. Um, but just. You know, to submit my fulfillment stories to you and to hear your feedback on my stories. Um, I changed my major because of the seminar, and I really discovered where my life was headed and it just reaffirmed my vocation.
[00:15:36] Um, Not necessarily my state in life vocation, but just my everyday vocation. What am I doing as, um, a sister, as a daughter, as a friend. Um, and I am just so thankful for, for the seminars without going into too much detail about the fulfillment stories. Um, I just, yeah, I just loved it so much. It was so life-giving to me.
[00:16:01] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:16:01] It, it, it, it truly delights me as a, as just a, as a, as a, a teacher and a, um, and a coach and somebody interested in, in the church’s beautiful teaching about personal vocation to hear that in you Sophia, uh, and yeah. yeah, warms. It warms mine. My heart on mine. Um, One of the things you asked about was, uh, this it’s not about selfishness.
[00:16:37] There’s people share stories of themselves in an activity that’s very satisfying. Um, authentically satisfying. It’s not selfish. And I, I so agree that that is a critical part point as well. Baptize members of the body of Christ. We’ve got to change the way we think about selfhood. And in, in, um, in a modern era where we didn’t and to think about isolated individuals, um, just in general, but also we have the concern as, as Christians often about, about wanting to be humble and not draw attention to ourselves.
[00:17:21] And that’s good of course, but. When we stand as a member of the body of Christ, and we recognize that we are each endowed with unique gifts, unique motivational design, and that it’s not ours. In one sense. It is ours in so far as we are a participant in the body of Christ. We are a member of the body of Christ with a particular task, and God is a God of joy.
[00:17:51] And once that from us. So when we’re sharing stories of being joyfully engaged in activity, that’s both satisfying where we’re making a [00:18:00] contribution. When we consider that from the standpoint of my membership, in the body of Christ and bringing to others, my participation in the body of Christ, it’s no longer about the isolated individual.
[00:18:13] It is about giving God glory. Um, recognize that I’m a unique image bear and that he’s called me to bring those gifts for others. And that part of the way we access those gifts and shed light on them is to simply share our joy, um, in, in expressing those gifts. And so when we recognize that. That we’re not isolated that through baptism and is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me and I participate with Christ.
[00:18:42] Then I think that changes the paradigm. Um, and we need to stand in the new Christian paradigm where we’re particulars of the divine nature. And that’s a great dignity and responsibility.
[00:18:54] Sophia Lebano: [00:18:54] Absolutely. Um, yeah, I mean, you really did emphasize that a lot during the seminar. And I am thankful for that because, you know, we’re kind of trained to be humble and have a sense of humility about it when we’re speaking about ourselves.
[00:19:08] Um, and to reframe that in God is giving us these guests. So we have to identify those in ourselves and it’s okay to speak about them. Um, it definitely changed my mindset in so many ways. So. How can understanding our motivational design help us to live our vocations more fully, whether that is stayed in life or everyday called to holiness.
[00:19:32] Yeah,
[00:19:33] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:19:33] that’s a great question. Well, first of all, I believe that when we’re talking about. Um, a unique sort of motivation is this, this unique drive to be a certain way, and to achieve a certain, certain kinds of outcomes that we’re, that we’re innately oriented towards. So we’re not talking about extrinsic motivation.
[00:19:51] We’re talking about this innate enduring consistent, um, drive to be one’s unique self. And so motivation is that the level of being, although it unfolds into, um, certain, um, Skills and competencies that we have to develop. Um, but, but the motivation itself is just to strive to be. And so when we identify it and we can see the outlines of that pattern and all these, these fulfillment stories, um, when we recognize the outlines of that pattern, uh, and see how consistent it is like a soul’s code, then at the same time, we have to recognize that it’s going to show up everywhere.
[00:20:37] So, um, the way we relate to others, um, the way we, um, we think about the world, um, the way that we, uh, want to be intimate with the Lord and relate to the Lord, it’s all oriented in part by our pattern of unique motivation. Grace builds upon nature, grace perfects nature. This [00:21:00] pattern of motivation reflects a unique.
[00:21:01] Uh, the essence of the person. So, um, it’s going to show up everywhere and certainly it is the case that patterns of motivation can indicate a certain career or professional trajectory, um, or even a state in life, uh, in, in ways. Um, although I think that there’s all kinds of priests and religious, who. Have there’s a call there for a whole wide variety of unique gifts.
[00:21:31] So it’s not like if we tap into a unique pattern, motivation, it’s going to indicate a state in life, but, but we will bring that pattern and motivation wherever God calls us, because it is the shape of our soul.
[00:21:46] Sophia Lebano: [00:21:46] Definitely. When you’re talking a lot about that, how somebody who is called to be a teacher.
[00:21:51] Could be a priest, but also be somebody who teaches. And I think it is really fascinating that the motivational design is just something that’s kind of part of us and really just goes into things that we’re doing in our everyday life. So how does vocation and discernment evolve as we grow up? If it does?
[00:22:12] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:22:12] Yeah, I think that’s a great question. How does vocation and discernment evolve? Um, well, I would say this, that. It consistency. One of the cons, I would like to point out one consistent theme, and that is something we talked about a lot in the seminar, and that is the call to live the sacrament of the present moment.
[00:22:34] We don’t, we don’t know the future. We can desire and hope for a future. And we ought to do that. We must do that as believers. We can’t change the past though, nor do we exactly know what’s going to happen in the future, but we can live each day that the Lord gives to us. He’s very clear in the sermon on the Mount that we should just let the day’s own anxieties and challenges be sufficient for the day.
[00:22:56] Live the full day, live the full moment. And so, um, Each of us are called uniquely and personally into every moment. So to live, our vocation consistently is to say yes to what God calls in the day in the moment. So that that’s a, that is a commonality. But I do think that using it, adults are at a place in terms of a discernment where the, the options in many cases are so broad.
[00:23:26] So before a state in life vocation, I think that that. That, um, there’s an intensity of discernment that, um, is present there. That’s not so present later on. So I’m married, I’ve got six children, I’ve got professional responsibilities. And so in one sense, some of the big, big decisions are I’ve already made.
[00:23:48] Um, so there’s an evolving there in terms of state in life, but, um, Other consistent themes in terms of discernment, as you will well [00:24:00] know and I’m, and can speak of wonderfully, uh, you know, our, our regular prayer, our listening, um, our attending to needs, uh, the need for confidence and mentors. Uh, the exploration between my pattern of motivation and the needs of the world.
[00:24:16] Those are all key factors. And also the freedom that God gives to us that that also remains. A consistent theme.
[00:24:26] Sophia Lebano: [00:24:26] Yeah. So you mentioned the sacrament of the present moment, and we did emphasize this a lot as well. How do we combat the secular need to always be busy and always be thinking ahead about deadlines and products and everything with this understanding whether Catholic or not of being in the present moment?
[00:24:47] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:24:47] Um, I believe that the secular culture. And the spiritual forces of darkness that we find in secular culture want to strip us away entirely, um, from real silence and dwelling with the Lord in the interior part of our being there’s so much that pushes against, um, Taking time in silence with the Lord. So I think that, uh, for all of us, and this is just not a generation Z issue at all.
[00:25:26] Um, those of us who are 30, 40, 50, 60 are just as plugged in to the digital world as younger folks as well. So it’s not just a, uh, youth and young adult, um, issue, but I think Sophia it’s absolutely vital for us to minimalize. Um, Uh, the amount of time that we’re plugged in digitally, um, because there’s, um, what could happen and I’ll just give one example of this and then back off, and then listen to a follow-up question you have is that, um, the, the brain is being transformed in such a way that, that long-term memory is becoming more and more in mimic because of this constant rush of, of digital engagement.
[00:26:12] And so when a long-term memory becomes anemic, Uh, our capacity to have, um, a holistic view of our world and to examine our own selves that happens through long-term memory that becomes diminished, and we have to have that. Um, so I think confronting the digital world and, and insisting that we have time for silence is vital.
[00:26:38] Sophia Lebano: [00:26:38] Absolutely. Um, I remember a question that my sophomore year theology teacher posed this to us in high school. And he said, do you think our memory is better or worse than the Israel lights? And everyone’s like, they’re better. Like we have so many tools to be, you know, Emphasizing and, um, enhancing our [00:27:00] memory.
[00:27:00] And he was like, ah, no. Can any of you guys call your home phone number? I’m really glad now I know the speed dial number for that, but not the actual number. Um, so I was like, wow, that’s so true. I mean, just for me, I’m looking at my siblings, how they’re like, I don’t even know your phone number. I just press your name and it’s all good.
[00:27:19] So I think that unplugging digitally is hard because it’s so surrounded. And we, you know, I’m an online student, I do school online and I have a podcast and everything. So I’m kind of surrounded by that. But you know, now that it’s summer, I’m really taking time to set back and pray and be present with God and church.
[00:27:40] And, you know, it’s so easy to be distracted in church when there’s people looking at their phones and answering them during church too. So, um, What are some of the ways that we can emphasize the sacrament of the present moment outside of just unplugging digitally?
[00:27:59] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:27:59] Well, that there’s something about truth, which can ignite us to proper action. And, uh, the truth will set us free. So, so I do think that that teaching the paradigm of personal vocation itself is very, very vital. Um, so, so for example, if we believe that our call, um, is, is, is simply a state in life, and we are young people who are seeking our state in life vocation, then.
[00:28:33] Um, what we can fall into is this idea that, that my real vocation is down the road. I’ve got to figure it out. Will I be married? Will I not be married? What will be my job? What will be my course of study? Where will I live? And so, um, when we’re talking about vocation as a future reality, that can take us away from living the sacrament of the present moment.
[00:29:00] And when that’s reinforced. Um, by the way that vocation is, is preached and taught, um, by the way we even do confirmation. Um, sadly we, we so often are emphasizing state in life vocation and for young people and young adults, it’s something down the road. Now, when we stop and say, look, you young adult, you even eight year old or seven year old.
[00:29:31] Are right now a baptized member of the body of Christ, whose whose vocation is to love the Lord, your God with all your whole soul strength and mind right now this day. And that’s both dignity and responsibility then. Then I think that it allows us to recognize no, actually the Lord wants me here and he wants me now.
[00:29:54] So to recognize that the call itself is here and now is I think very, very important for living the [00:30:00] sacrament of the present moment. Um, that’s one aspect of teaching. I think that’s very, very vital. The other thing is that when we recognize that the Lord is present to us, speaking to us, wanting to be intimate with us here in now, That can also help us live the sacrament of the present moment.
[00:30:21] You know, for if, if, if, if we’re always saying, all right, I’m in this ballot, tears, and someday I’ll get to heaven rather than thinking through Lord. This is the day you have made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. That whole orientation allows us to live the sack of the present moment.
[00:30:40] Sophia Lebano: [00:30:40] Absolutely. That’s one of my favorite songs in church too.
[00:30:43] Oh, is that right? Saying that? Yes. So you mentioned something that I did want to touch on a little bit is what is the biggest piece of advice or pieces of advice that you have to someone who is anxious about discerning their vocation? Whether it is just right now or their ultimate state in life, vocation.
[00:31:06] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:31:06] One of the reasons why I love the work of drawing out stories of fulfillment is that it helps people recognize
[00:31:21] their unique pattern of motivation and gifts. That they’re one of a kind and profoundly, um, uh, beautiful and. Uh, precious with the immense dignity
[00:31:40] and that’s of course made almost infinitely enriched by, by their baptism. And so, um, one of the whole problems with, with a view of vocation is that it takes people away from recognizing their own unique dignity. As, as, as, as persons who are baptized. So what I’d like to emphasize is the Lord made you with a purpose from all eternity.
[00:32:12] He made you as a unique image, bare for all eternity, um, special, no one’s ever been made like you and no, nor will anyone ever be made like you after. Your time on earth is gone. And so just to, to emphasize and highlight the glory of the person, um, in how they’re made and how they’re they’re uniquely called right now.
[00:32:36] And when we emphasize that and we listened to the person and, and recognize who they are, um, and people grasp that for themselves. And at the same time, recognize both the dignity and the responsibility of living to the full in the present moment. Um, I believe that can help [00:33:00] to reduce anxiety. That’s what I’ve heard from students every semester for the last 10 years is that when they really grasp the glory of their unique design and the personal vocation, which, which is supposed to manifest that unique design, um, It often relieves anxiety.
[00:33:20] Um, also I think that that God God’s call and his love for the person is for them to embrace what he wills for them this day. And that. It’s always manageable. And I think that can help, that can help reduce anxiety.
[00:33:41] Sophia Lebano: [00:33:41] I think so, too. Um, you know, identifying that motivational design, it was not, you know, a snap of a fingers, instant, you know, already reliever.
[00:33:49] Yeah. But it started to settle things where I’m like, okay, I can see where God is working and how there’s this golden thread kind of working through my life. And I was able to take it to prayer and make it decision based on the tools that God was given me. And of course at the seminar gave me as well, which leads me to another question is your book and repeatable was an amazing resource for us to use.
[00:34:16] So why don’t you tell everybody a little bit about the process of writing it and what it really is about?
[00:34:22] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:34:22] Okay. So it’s, uh, it’s called unrepeatable cultivating the unique calling of every person coauthored with, uh, Luke Burgess and.
[00:34:34] It comes from a conviction and both Luke and I have that, that the church’s teaching on personal vocation is absolutely vital for the renewal of the church, but yet it’s on the periphery of Catholic life. And so we. We’re in our, uh, convicted that we’ve, we’ve got to highlight the church’s teaching on personal vocation and help make it a reality.
[00:34:59] Uh, so that was the driving impulse. Um, and we came at this from different angles. I’m married. Um, I’ve got six children. Luke was in seminary for five years and in seminary had the best and worst of spiritual direction. Um, and. So anyway, we came at this from, from different angles. Um, we’ve got different writing styles.
[00:35:24] Uh he’s he’s got more, uh, there’s more of a creative nerve there. Um, I’m more systematic. Um, my background is in drawing out stories and motivation. Uh, and so, um, we, we divided it up, so I did several chapters and he did several chapters. Um, But we came at it very collaboratively and, um, we’re just blessed to do that together.
[00:35:55] Is that a helpful response? I don’t know if that’s sufficient.
[00:35:59] Sophia Lebano: [00:35:59] Oh, that’s perfect. [00:36:00] Now it was such a great book. Um, I feel like, you know, if people don’t get the chance to work with you, that definitely is like the textbook for what we got to to learn about. Um, which do you offer these services to people?
[00:36:14] Um, outside of Franciscan university?
[00:36:18] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:36:18] Yes. That’s a good question. And the answer is yes. So I do serve as, as a coach. Um, and, and, uh, but more and more, I’ve been doing training in personal vocation mentorship. So I’ve been working with, um, the given Institute, which, um, is oriented towards helping, uh, young women young, uh, to, to get mentorship, um, and different diocese.
[00:36:47] Um, and, and other organizations that are devoted to working with young adults. So, um, yes, so coaching and also mentor training.
[00:36:57] Sophia Lebano: [00:36:57] That’s awesome. So if people want to learn more about what you do and how to do what you do, um, do you have any resources or information for where they can find out about that?
[00:37:08]
[00:37:09] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:37:09] Uh, so Inscape vocations.com is, um, the current website. And, um, we do have a non-for-profit that has been established, um, Inscape center.org. That that website is still being, being built. Um, but we really felt called to participate with. Catholic institutions and having a non-for-profit really helps with building those partnerships.
[00:37:33] Um, and then they could, people could reach out to me directly. Um, my email address is, uh, simply josh@inscapevocations.com. So they could email me that way too.
[00:37:44] Sophia Lebano: [00:37:44] Yeah. That link will be down below for you guys to check out. And if people want to buy your book, where can they find out about that?
[00:37:52] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:37:52] So they can buy it in several places.
[00:37:55] Of course it’s available on Amazon. And then you may have S uh, uh, road publishing is where is the publishers? They could also get it from, from there. So that’s the St. Paul center, uh, and Emmaus road publishing.
[00:38:11] Sophia Lebano: [00:38:11] Perfect. Yeah. So do you have any last words of dice or anything you want to close with before we end this episode?
[00:38:18] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:38:18] Just that. That for, for those, um, who are not baptized into the, into the body of Christ the church, I urge you to do that because that’s where our ultimate call is to participant with Christ. But those of your listeners who are believers, who are Christians and who are baptized, my, my my message is that you are an irreplaceable, a unique member of the body of Christ or partake of the divine nature.
[00:38:48] And the world needs you. And you are called to cope, participate in the building of God’s kingdom and the story of salvation through your own story. So it’s vital [00:39:00] that you share it and, um, and recognize your, your profound, uh, precious dignity as a unique person. Yeah.
[00:39:08] Sophia Lebano: [00:39:08] Yeah, absolutely. So I hope you guys enjoyed this episode.
[00:39:11] It was just a sliver of the 14 weeks that I got to spend with Dr. Miller and our cohort. Most life-changing 14 weeks,
[00:39:21] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:39:21] praise God. And through your help too, this is a collaborative effort, um, which made it wonderful. Uh, I mentioned that too, that it was really interaction. That we had as, as a community, uh, around these topics.
[00:39:35] So wouldn’t have been at all the same without you Sophia.
[00:39:39] Sophia Lebano: [00:39:39] Thank you. Yes. So guys, thank you so much for tuning into this week’s episode of here in our podcast. Dr. Miller, thank you again for coming onto the show. It was wonderful.
[00:39:48] Dr Joshua Miller: [00:39:48] You’re welcome and thanks for the opportunity.
[00:39:50] Sophia Lebano: [00:39:50] Sure. Yes, guys. Thank you so much.
[00:39:52] And I will talk to you next week on Hear and Now Podcast.
SHOW NOTES:
It’s the 92nd episode of Hear and Now Podcast! Thank you for joining me this week as I have my professor, Dr. Miller, on to discuss vocation and unique motivational design.
THANK YOU TO THE SPONSOR OF TODAY’S EPISODE, Zarc International!
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