Answering life’s most asked question
01-01-2023
Since joining McCormick a year ago, Dr. Itihari Y. Toure, associate dean for Curriculum Development and Assessment, has been introducing at every level of the seminary’s culture and academic experience four principles that help to answer life’s most asked question. Leading Change invited her to share insights on one principle – do what you love. In future editions, we’ll take a look at the other three principles.
“There’s a question that everyone asks at some point in their lives. It’s asked in slightly different ways, but each version is basically the same…why am I here…what is my reason for being…what is my purpose…what am I to do with the life that I’ve been given.
What some studies have shown is that the answer to that question comes at the intersection of doing what we love, doing something the world needs, doing what we are good at, and doing something we can get paid for. You’ve asked to me focus on “a person doing what they love,” and I will. But there is not a hierarchy to these four principles; they are equally important, and a person might begin the journey toward their answer from any one of them.
When I think about doing what I love, an old gospel chorus I sang growing up comes to mind, ‘this joy I have, the world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away.’ When you do what you love, it is infused with the joy of the Lord…it’s not based on material acquisition or status. It’s an opportunity to engage with the Spirit within us. We are enlivened just by the work we do.
One of the challenges in life is to not let go of what enlivens us…of what brings us joy. In ministry, we can get so busy doing what the world needs, what we can get paid for, or honing our skills, that we forget to look for ways to connect people and ourselves with what brings us joy. Again, all four are equally important. Yet staying in step with the divine dance of joy is often the easiest principle to fail to remember.
Some of the ways individuals stay connected to their joy is to get back in touch with nature. It could be a walk in the woods or gardening. It could be time for self-reflection, journaling, sitting with yourself and listening for your own voice. Opportunities to do activities in community can help us identify what brings us joy. That’s why we’re encouraged not to forsake being in community with others.
One of my joys as an educator is to work with religious leaders and emerging ministers. I love imagining how we can create space for people to sit with that which brings them joy…what enlivens their spirits. I get excited thinking about what would happen as we gather to share, to write and re-situate Scriptures together.
When we launched these principles at new student orientation, the overriding response from students was that orientation was not what they thought it would be. Their expectation was it would be general information about classes and services. Instead, students felt that McCormick was ‘intentional about their being.’ We’re now offering Formation Week as part of the Fall and Spring terms, giving even more time to the four principles and how they intersect with what students are learning in their courses or any other program at the seminary.
I’m convinced that our Creator does not want to see us working, living and being without joy in our hearts…without a sense of accomplishment…without a sense of purpose in the work we do. We are here to experience the fullness of our being. It brings me joy to help us do that.”
Dr. Itihari Y. Toure
Associate Dean for Curriculum Development and Assessment