Man Up!

Why Do Men Work? Finding Purpose and Calling in Your Job, Part 1 — Sam Halligan

Episode Summary

Why do we work, and are we called to the job we have? Joe Stopulos welcomes Sam Halligan of FORGE in Des Moines for Part 1 of a two-part conversation on the Catholic theology of work, purpose, and vocation for men. They trace work back to Genesis, ask whether you need to enjoy your job, and look at how to find meaning in modern work when you feel like a cog in the machine.

Episode Notes

What is the purpose of work? Am I in the right career? Am I called to this job? Most men wrestle with these questions throughout their careers. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Joe Stopulos sits down with Sam Halligan of FORGE, fresh off FORGE’s new course on men and work, for a candid conversation about why we work and how faith shapes the way we approach our jobs.

In this episode:

• Meet Sam Halligan: A Des Moines native (St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale, Dowling Catholic, Benedictine College) who spent a decade as a missionary with Damascus in Ohio and Minnesota before coming home to Iowa and joining FORGE.
• Work is not a result of the Fall: God commissioned Adam to till and keep the garden before original sin. Work carries real dignity by design; the “sweat of your brow” came later.
• Do you have to enjoy your job? Providing for your family is a higher good than loving what you do. Ideally the two go together, and St. Irenaeus’ “the glory of God is man fully alive” points toward using your God-given talents well.
• There is no perfect job: Even dream careers like pro golfer, rock star, or CEO come with grinding pressure. Comparison is a trap, much like Instagram.
• Virtue lives in the middle: Avoid both the overworker who neglects his family and the man who never gets in the arena. Avoid both the job-hopper and the man stuck on autopilot.
• Take an inventory: Pause, pray, and ask whether you are stewarding your talents or hiding them under a bushel basket.
• Finding purpose in modern work: Since the Industrial Revolution, workers have moved further from the people they serve. Joe and Sam discuss meaning in a 100,000-person company, the role of AI, and the parable of three men building the same wall, one of whom knows he’s building a house for God.
• St. Paul on idleness: 2 Thessalonians makes clear we are all called to work, including retirees.
• Why men’s groups matter: A small group of faithful Catholic men who know you well is a strong sounding board for career and vocation decisions.

Next week in Part 2: evangelization in the workplace and much more with Sam Halligan.

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