“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power.”2 Thessalonians 1:11
How do we know what we’re meant to do with our lives? As a girl that has never felt a clear sense of vocational direction, this question seems especially daunting to me, especially in a season where so much seems uncertain about the future. During our vocational retreat, I didn’t find all the answers, but I did discover something just as important.
The week before Christmas, the fellows hit the road for a four-day retreat at Bruffs, where we gathered to explore vocation and calling with speaker Dr. Bruce Lowe from Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta. This retreat had been highly anticipated, with weeks of preparation leading up to it. We had spent many hours completing ability assessments designed to uncover our innate skills, emotional intelligence, and core motivators (The Highlands Ability Battery, EQI, and MCode). After receiving our various test results, we were eager for the retreat — to dive deeper and understand what these insights truly meant. The retreat provided that opportunity, offering one-on-one sessions with Bruce to help us make sense of it all.
In addition to one-on-one sessions where we unpacked our results, the retreat offered moments of rest and reflection. In these moments we were able to dive deeper with one another, be vulnerable, and grow deeper in our relationships with each other. Each of us had the chance to debrief our one-on-one experience with the group, which helped us process new insights about ourselves. This intentional space fostered a level of closeness we hadn’t yet reached amid our usual busy routines. By the end of the retreat, our connections had grown, and our sense of community deepened in a meaningful way.
While I did not walk away from this retreat with an abundance of clarity nor an answer to what career path I should choose, I learned things about myself that I may never have taken the time to find out otherwise. I discovered qualities about myself that I am proud of and feel blessed that God has gifted me, while there are other parts that I now know I can actively be working on in order to reflect Christ. I feel beyond grateful that I am surrounded by a community that will walk alongside me, hold me accountable, and continue to help me grow closer to the Lord. As I reflect on my time at the retreat, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. While I may not have come away with a neatly packaged answer about my specific vocation, I gained something more significant: a deeper understanding of myself and the unique qualities that shape who God created me to be. The retreat provided space not just for reflection but for connection—both with myself and with the other fellows. It allowed me to see that vocation is not just about a job or career, but about fully living out the person Christ created me to be. With newfound clarity about my strengths, areas for growth, and the people I’m walking alongside, I feel equipped to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet” – Dr. Bruce Lowe
About the Author
Robin Dixon is a member of the Fourth Fellows Class of 2024-2025. She is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and is a graduate of Appalachian State University. This year, she is working for the Trinity Forum.
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