A reflection on why relationships are at the heart of our vocation.
Relationships are usually overlooked when talking about vocations, yet the summary of all the Law and the Prophets by Jesus states:
"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength"
The second is this:-
"Love your neighbour as yourself."
Following Jesus by keeping these first two commandments could not have a stronger emphasis on relationships, both with God and with others.
The Ten Commandments are the blueprint for living well - there to create healthy choices and relationships within a community, representing God, and bringing healing to God's creation.
So we see:
Commandments 1-3: How to relate to and represent God
Commandments 4-5: Giving yourself time to reconnect to the community, and to living (without work), whilst knowing who you are, and where you are going (your parents, and being a parent)
Commandments 6-9: Relating to others (or at least limiting how not to behave)
Commandment 10: Encouragement not to try and be someone else
In other words
"Be yourself, everyone else is taken"
You, your talents, abilities, strengths, experiences, passions, interests, character and uniqueness are all God's gift to the rest of creation.
So much of the Bible is about relationships, very little is about actual occupation, except for integrity within it. It is really about the relationships in all aspects of life, within and outside our paid occupation.