i've been contemplating work lately. what does it mean to do a good work? does what you do for a career really define as much of you as what our society seems to think it does? when did it become socially acceptable to decide so much about a person simply by their job title? i'm not saying i don't judge...i'm just asking. i say integrity over title. i say we redefine learning. i say family before work. i say work so that you can have a healthy family [healthy in all aspects of the word]. i say find something you love and when you are no longer inspired...move on. this doesn't mean you should flake out when the going gets tough - it simply means that you should be inspired by your work. i say redefine the definition of work. i say passion over $ and if your passion gets you $ - consider yourself blessed and pass it on. if your job is interfering with the success of your marriage...get rid of it as fast as you can.
i've been called a "free bird" when it comes to my career path. i've never been fired, but i have a history of waking up one morning with this feeling that i need to escape. like i've finished my work and need to move forward. sometimes it's been right on and sometimes it's been premature, but it's led to me to now...so i don't regret it. however; i have friends that have known what they wanted to do since high school or before that and have spent their lives chasing that one specific goal. i'm proud of them and, at times, envy their persistence...but, it's not me. few things in life have felt 'permanent', but the things that do...i find myself very protective of.
i feel very protective of where i'm at in life, and a big part of that is my job! i love being partially defined by my job, because every part of it makes me proud. i wish to always love the work i do as much as i do now. i feel completely and holistically content, challenged [in so many ways], inspired, called, encouraged, excited, and peaceful about this place the Lord has brought me to.
i don't think that i've ever had a dream or divine revelation about what/where/how/why i was supposed to do a certain work. i think God works in and through you wherever you are...as long as you let him. Dr. Hiigel (my favorite professor at USF) prayed, "Thank you, God...for investing your Spirit in our hearts". i'd never thought of it like that before. if you are invested in your faith...God is invested in every aspect of your life. amazing.
thankful*
Tara
I agree with your thoughts... Work for me has always been about my "calling from God" . It has always been about something I feel passionate about. I am very fortunate to be able to do that from Chugwater... My calling and passion all rolled into one from 40 miles out of town.
ReplyDeleteI was told years ago... that when the passion disappears and it becomes harder and harder to motivate yourself to do something that is God telling you to move on. That is what happened with Mighty Moms... for a long time it was vital and I was passionate about it.... 8 years actually. The last year we were beating a dead horse. It was time to move on... Holy Spirit was telling me but I didn't want to change and let go so it was hard. It had been so good.
I believe that career is like a puzzle''' fitting everything together. Your gifts, your interests, your experiences.... you start the journey... an even those that seem to know from a young age will tell you that God gave them twists and turns along the way... experiences and people that influenced their decisions that took them in different directions that they originally had intended. We need to be flexible and responsive to His Spirit. But a journey with the God of the universe will never be dull... He will allow you to do things you never thought possible. He will develop gifts/ passions that you never even knew that you had. This is what makes the "work" meaningful.... It is amazing.....you are right.
glad you are loving life and at peace with where you are at - nothing better than that feeling of contentment in the moment!
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