I have a cousin who is a retired GP. It was a second career for him and he took to it well. He ran a progressive and effective practice and notably raised awareness of depression amongst young people.
In his retirement, he continues to help his community, being involved with a Mountain Rescue Team, and last year, as a pensioner, completed all the Munros in just 88 days. His expedition to conquer these peaks was in memory of a friend, and so far has raised around £50,000 for ‘L’Arche communities for disabled young people.
These are great achievements, but I’ve always thought the measure of the man comes from a question I am regularly asked when people spot my surname: “Oh -- are you related to Gerry?” My affirmative is invariably met with a tale of his kindness, the extra help he gave as their GP, and how they have never forgotten his support for them.
To figure in people’s hearts in such a way suggests that what he has been working at, for a good part of his life, has been something more than just a career.
In fact, to do it justice, you’d need to use a word that is so rarely heard it seems almost archaic -- "vocation".
People shy away from this description of a job because, to describe what you do as a "calling" can seem precious or self-serving, and certainly it is better applied to others than self. It also has a whiff of self sacrifice and "good works" which people may often feel is off-putting or inappropriate.
However, it is adescription that can be applied to almost any job -- for it relates to the approach brought to the task. If your job is the fulfilment of what you want to do, if you operate with integrity, commitment, and awareness of others, you will make a difference, you will be following a calling.
In a long career, I have come across many teachers for whom that word, vocation, is appropriate.Their dedication to the young people they teach -- in their education and welfare - has been immense.
The good of the pupil has frequently been put before their own personal advancement and they have followed that particularly tough road of practising what they preach. I’m not blind to the fact that not all teachers fit this description and, indeed, the road to cynicism is often lined with good intentions, but I have admired many for their total commitment.
No doubt, in the reaction to the McCormac Report, the usual arguments about working week, holiday entitlement and public sector security will be rehearsed again and again.
I tend to find that those who have most knowledge of the profession have more respect for the job done by teachers than those with a more passing acquaintance.
However, when the report is discussed in detail and reactions are formulated, amongst teachers, politicians and the public, I hope that due respect will be given to young people and their futures, and we will focus rather more on vocation and less on vacation.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article