He doesn't mean simply following each desire that strikes us. Au wants us to connect our desires and longings to the rest of reality. A discussion leader or teacher will find provocative quotes in this chapter for getting a conversation going in a group or class. And interestingly, in grappling with the question of what is my purpose in life, Au frames his material not only for young people starting out in life, but also for people in mid-life transition and even for early retirees. In many of these Links for Learners, we have discussed the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation as starting points in our Christian lives.
Vocation starts there too.
In Baptism, we are each signed as God's child. Later, in Confirmation, we reinforce or confirm this role as a child of God. Each sacrament gives us strength to live as Jesus would have us live. The sacraments also serve as signposts as we reach major milestones in our lives. As a baby, or as a teen or adult convert, we are starting out fresh, beginning a new life.