John W.

Torppey
Dr. Cooper
16 February 2016
Senior Seminar
Ethical Credo:
Must My Vocation Be My Primary Source Of Joy?
Joy is meant to be a hallmark of the Christian life. However, my
generation in particular has been told from birth to pursue a job that
you love and you will have the most joy. I grew up believing that my
dream job would (and should) be one of the greatest sources of joy. I
was told that if I worked hard enough, I would be able to do anything I
wanted. But as time has passed, Ive come to realize that that is not
the reality.
My first two years at Wheaton werent what I expected. While I
always had a smile on, my heart was hurting. I didnt have friends I
was close with, I disliked my major, and I just wasnt enjoying college
as much as everyone else seemed to be. By the end of sophomore
year, I was over the whole college experience as it wasnt what
everyone made it out to be. Since my college experience wasnt what
I thought it was going to be, I had to make sure life after was. I
decided that I was going to work hard, get good grades and as much
internship and make as many connections so I could get my dream job.
If I did, then I would be joyful.

However, over the course of the last two years, God has slowly
taught me that true joy doesnt have to do with your vocation. My
credo will be a collection of lessons I have learned, whether from
professors, courses, experiences or readings, of what it looks like to
experience authentic joy.
I have learned that stepping out of your comfort zone is one of
the best ways to experience joy. If theres anyone who can say theyve
lived comfortable life, its me. I was raised in Wheaton, less than ten
blocks from the college. Although I was learning to love Wheaton
College, I knew I needed to get out. So the fall of my junior, I finally
decided I needed some change. The deadlines were closed, but after
meeting with some professors and making a few phone calls, I applied
and was accepted to study in Brisbane, Australia. Three months later, I
was boarding a plane and traveling halfway across the world.
God calls us to find comfort and peace in Him but at the same
time, He doesnt want us to live comfortable lives. James writes:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your
faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its
work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking
anything (NIV, James 1:2-4).

God doesnt care if we are comfortable in this world. In fact, we

are called to consider it pure joy when we become vulnerable and
uncomfortable. From the beginning of time until now, He has asked His
children to walk out in faith with Him to follow Him into the land of
unknown and press forward through difficulties. We are not called to
cling onto what is comfortable. There are no easy shortcuts in a
genuine walk with Christ. In fact, a Christian life should be anything
but comfortable. For once we are uncomfortable, then we can truly
experience joy.
My time in Australia has the greatest impact on my spiritual
development. I expected my relationship with God to grow while I was
abroad, but I did not know to what extent. One of the things I learned
through deciding to study abroad is that I really, really need God.
When I understood that, I truly trusted in his perfect love and power for
the first time in my life. The joy of life comes from our encounters
with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have
an endlessly changing horizon" (Krakauer, 1997 p. 57). I find that
quote especially true. But as a believer, I take it one step further. Joy
in life comes from trusting God. It all comes back to trusting in the
Lord so we can step out of our comfort zone.
The second lessoned I have learned is that I can find joy in
missing out. I recently read a book titled The Joy of Missing Out and
it has revolutionized the way I approach technology, intentionality and

living in the moment. The book examines the implications of a

technological focused life and the possibilities for those longing to
cultivate a richer, more joyful life. Kids experience joy all the time,
without knowing it. Children are often in a state of joy and it's because
they're present, they're living in the moment, they're not focused on
their worry about the future or concerns about the past. They're
enjoying their moment now (Crooks, 2015 p 2).
Brooks raises some simple yet crucial questions: "When was the
last time [I] struck up a conversation with a stranger on the subway
platform, or reached out to a neighbor on the street?" (Crooks, 2015 p.
123). Looking back to this past summer, a perfect example in my life
comes to mind. I was working downtown Chicago for a production
company. The interview process was long and when I finally got it, I
was so thrilled because it was my dream internship in my dream career
field. However, when I look back on the summer, the thing I remember
most about work in the city wasnt the actual work I did at my
internship. One day, on my walk from work to the train, I wasnt on my
phone because it had died at work. I obviously wasnt happy and I
definitely wasnt looking forward to the long train ride without my
iPhone. A few blocks from Ogilvie train station, I saw homeless woman
sitting on the ground reading her Bible. For some reason, I sat down
beside her and we started talking.

Over the summer, this 30-year-old woman named Maria taught

me so much about thankfulness, joyfulness and it was honestly very
inspiring. Although she had nothing, she knew the Bible, her faith was
strong and we had a lot of good conversations. And it only happened
because my phone was off and I was forced to live in the now. When
we eliminate technology, and increase intentionality in our day-to-day
lives, there is real joy to be found.
The third way to experience joy is to surround yourself with
people who genuinely love you and want to see you grow in your
relationship with the Lord. Coming into Wheaton, I didnt make the
best decisions when it came to friends. I already knew a few people
from highs school, and instead of meeting new people, I stayed by the
people I knew. Most of these friends did not want to be at Wheaton and
did a lot of complaining about the school. I was pessimistic, slightly
depressed and lost during my first two years at Wheaton.
It was only last year that I decided I needed some real friends.
Friends that were going to build me up, encourage me, and point
towards Jesus. I thought it would be a difficult switch because people
already had their friend groups, but so many people welcomed me.
Today I live with six God fearing men, three of them I had never spoken
to until last year. Whether we are working out in the SRC, doing
homework at the dining room table, or studying the Word, my friends
bring me so much joy. I am constantly reminded of Solomons words in

Proverbs, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

(NIV, Proverbs 27:17). I grew up reciting that verse but have only
recently begun to understand it how true it is.
That being said, the ways Ive learned to experience real joy are
only possible with God. As Christians, the answer is right within us.
Above all else, we experience joy in our Christian lives by giving our
lives completely over to Jesus. Chapter 15 of John states, These things
I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may
be full" (NIV, John 15:11). There is joy to found when seek Christ with
all our heart.
I now believe that a persons vocation has no bearing on whether
or not their life is filled with real joy. As believers, our joy is not
worldly or of the flesh, so it simply cannot come from ones job. Our
joy stems from hope in one Person, even if there is pain, sorrow,
struggles or tears. Over my years at Wheaton, I have truly come to
appreciate that when God is my primary source of joyfulness, my
vocation will only be a channel, nothing more.

Works Cited

Crooks, C. (2015) Joy Of Missing Out. Gabriola Island, Canada: New

Society
Publishers, Inc.
Crossway Bibles. (2007). NIV: Study Bible: New International Version.
Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
Krakauer, J. (1997). Into the Wild. New York City, NY: Anchor Publishing,
Inc.