“Being mostly business or professional folk, we could not well carry on our occupations in such an event. We would like it understood that our alcoholic work is an avocation.” (Foreword to the First Edition, Big Book)
“None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did. We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs.” (Chapter 2)
I spend a great deal of time on sustenance: my occupation. To the world, this looks important. To me, it is not. It is lowest of the three material domains (family, health, sustenance). But it is the essential vehicle for demonstrating the effectiveness of the programme: the vocation is the shopping bag that carries the avocation, the shopping. What is the shopping? The carrying of the message and being a vessel for God to work in the lives of others. You can’t get the shopping home without the bag, but the bag is not the point.
The princess who marries a farmer is not deeply satisfied with the tomatoes he produces. She grew up with music, art, and other joys of the palace. There is nothing wrong with tomatoes, and she needs tomatoes to live, but tomatoes won’t deliver joy. The soul will never be happy with the material. Might as well try to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches to your body.
My vocation is necessary to live, but my avocation is necessary for life. My vocation is necessary to create space for me to live in, but it is not life itself. If I’m not living, I’m just taking up space. Without an avocation, I’m the princess eating tomatoes wondering why they’re not Bach.