So Here Goes Everything...

So, here I go. :)

There is so much to say and so little space to write it in, and even more so, so little time to write it all down.
The first - and probably most often written about - subject I'd like to delve into is that of the woman, the female, the feminine characteristic of God in bodily form. Though, not women in general. No, the MARRIED woman. The woman who has chosen matrimony (Catholics call it the Sacrament of Matrimony) as her vocation.
I want the reader to take note here, as it is imperative to understand : When I write about women, I will usually be referring to MARRIED women, NOT single women, unless I mention otherwise. Although, what I write about is not just for married women, but also for those women who wish one day to be married, so that they may learn.
Now that that's out of the way, let's continue, shall we?

Back to the vocation of marriage. Every person is called to one of two very specific vocations: the vocation of matrimony or the vocation of celibacy. It IS that simple. God calls each of us to live out a life of holiness and love in one of these ways. We either devote ourselves to a life of holiness through consecrated marriage or through consecrated celibacy.
If a woman is called to marriage, THAT is her vocation. Not sewing, not dancing, not singing, not politicking...no. She is called to MARRIAGE. Don't get me wrong. A woman can do many things within her vocation of marriage, but they will not be her "calling". They will be gifts, talents, burdens, hobbies, desires that she is more than able to use within the sphere of her vocation.
A woman's vocation is marriage if that is the desire of her heart - to be married - and if that is what she chooses to do. If she chooses marriage, it is for life, and it is the path to holiness she has chosen.
Understanding one's vocation is absolutely key to understanding one's place and duty in this life. I went through The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren a few years ago. I was so excited at first because I thought, "Yes! Finally...I will know what my calling is." I know that study has helped people worldwide discover what God has designed them for and put in their hearts. Yet for me, I did not find what I was looking for. What I found was a gaping hole of sloppiness and unknowing. I'm not dissing the study. I'm just saying that I did not hear any way of knowing what my calling was in life. I heard a lot about ministry and gifts and desires. Good things, but they all seemed to be stuff. Stuff that goes along with something bigger, something more important, something more solid. I may not be making any sense, but let me continue. I continued to struggle with the "purpose" of my life, not knowing what it really was, or what "purpose" really even meant. It wasn't until I learned about vocation, after coming into the Catholic Church, that I finally understood what I was made for, beyond the generalities of loving and worshiping God and loving others.
It finally clicked: Vocation = Purpose ! The Catholic understanding of one's "vocation" is the same as what non-Catholics call "purpose"! I was so relieved and overjoyed! It may not be shocking or such a revelation to anyone reading this, but it was to me. I wasn't relieved at the different wording or that it was a Catholic term. I was relieved that Catholics actually defined one's "purpose" so specifically and simply! According to "vocation" EVERYONE is called to either marriage or celibacy! How refreshingly simple! No longer have I worried about whether or not I should sing on stage or teach drama or serve in the children's ministry. I have realized that my ONLY calling, my vocation is to be married, and that anything else is secondary to that calling. Though I may have a desire or gift to sing or a desire and gift to teach children or a desire and gift to dance for Jesus, these are secondary to my calling in life to marriage.
Before I get too ahead of myself, let me explain about the vocation of marriage. It is not simply something you are - married - or even something you tend to once a week - working on your marriage. This vocation carries FAR GREATER responsibilities than these simple things. The vocation of marriage entails many responsibilities, duties, joys, as well as crosses. It even entails placement and role. One does not just fit a wedding day and spouse into a day in their life and continue on doing whatever they were doing before. Although, THAT is exactly how marriage has come to be understood in this day and age. But trust me, that is NOT what marriage is about.
The vocation of marriage is important for both men and women to learn the truth about, for it entails the responsibilities and placement of each. For the woman, the wife, in the vocation of marriage she is called to be many things: lover to her husband, childbearer, nurturer, guardian of her home, cultivator of life, teacher to her children, comforter, supporter, help-mate to her husband, sensitive, emotional, encourager, manager of her household affairs, provider of health and nutrition to her family, and much more. For the man, the husband, the vocation of marriage entails very different, yet complimentary responsibilities: lover to his wife, provider for his family, giver of life(with God of course), protector of his family, logical, instructor, mentor, strong, steady, and also more.
Obviously, there is much more here than just "being married" or "having a husband" or "having a wife". There are actual duties and placements laid out for each spouse, AND THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT. This is IMPORTANT!!
Men and women compliment each other BECAUSE of their differences.
Men are not women, and women are not men! Duh, but believe you me, most people today cannot even comprehend the simplicity of such a statement, and yes, Christian people.
If we do not understand that men are supposed to be men (which means husbands do what they're supposed to do) and that women are supposed to be women (which means wives do what they're supposed to do) then we will never fulfill the calling of God in our lives.
Wives and husbands have very different roles within marriage. They have different roles because they themselves are different.

More later.....