Reflections on Vocation | Eden Abebe

Vocation was a topic in my home from a very early age. As is common in many immigrant families, the prestige of medicine shaped how my parents understood success. Because of that, I attended a vocational high school where I earned my pharmacy technician and CNA certifications alongside my normal coursework. I felt immense pressure to pursue a career that aligned with their hopes. Medicine was noble and “successful” in their eyes, so I adopted that dream as my own, at least for a while.

I thought I had my future planned out. I even had a ten-year plan as a teenager. But halfway through high school, something in me shifted. I began to feel a deep call toward justice, service, and advocacy. As my awareness of suffering, brokenness, and sin increased, I was overwhelmed by how fallen our world is. At first, I only saw these realities through a worldly lens that felt hopeless. I struggled to recognize God’s presence in the midst of injustice.

Eventually, Scripture reframed my understanding. Through a biblical lens, I began to see the Lord’s heart for the reconciliation of His children. Wrestling with the pain and inequity around me did not discourage me, but instead it sharpened my desire to pursue advocacy. Those frustrations became fuel.

Horizons Fellows has deepened my understanding of vocation even further. I’ve learned that vocation is far more than a job. It’s a way of living faithfully in response to God’s call, which isn’t always one thing. It is complex, and it often unfolds differently than we expect. Now, four months into this transitional year, I am not where I once thought I would be. I am not hitting the benchmarks I scripted for myself. I imagined I would have graduate school applications completed by now, but the Lord has redirected me. Instead of rushing, I am learning to trust that the burdens and desires He has placed on my heart are intentional. My job right now is to faithfully steward what is in front of me and trust that His plans are far greater than anything I could design for myself.

Image: Horizons Fellows on their fall retreat. Eden is last on the right.