Donald Wickham’s Blog

When I think of work, lots of things come to mind.  Enjoyment isn’t often one of those thoughts.  Necessity, obligation, duty, drudgery are more frequent.  I remember, growing up, that I was told that a man (or woman) was blessed if they enjoyed their job.  I was led to believe it was rare.  The opening scenes of “Joe vs. Volcano” come to mind.  Dreary troops of people, drab in clothes and complexion.  Trudging their way to a pointless, thankless, soul-sucking job. (View the trailer) Day after day after day.  Oh what a joy.  NOT!

 Is this all we can hope for or expect?  What was the original intent for “work”?  When Adam was placed in the Garden, what was he supposed to be doing?  Play?  No, it was work, to be fruitful and multiply.  To name all the animals.  To subdue the earth.  And he was given a beautiful partner in the enterprise.  Yes, they blew their opportunity and were kicked out of the Garden.  And yes, his work would be much harder.  But even that hard work was a blessing as “idle hands make much mischief.” 

 And, listening to those who have lost their jobs, like during these hard economic times, they would be delighted to return to work.  Another irony of human nature, we gripe about our jobs until we lose them and then beg for them back.

 This leads me to recognize that our feelings about our jobs, the work we are doing, comes from us, not the job.  And perhaps our real issue isn’t the work, but that our hearts have grown cold with little hope. 

 Think about times when you have been working at something you do really enjoy.  If you are like me, you looked forward to it and could keep at it for what seemed like forever.  Now think about other tasks, those you don’t like doing at all.  You have to drag yourself to do them.  You put them off as long as you can.  And they exhaust you.  What’s the difference?  Your and my attitudes.  When we are passionate about something, when our hearts are engaged, WOW, what a difference.

 So I suggest we don’t keep looking for the “right” job but look deeper, into our hearts, and find the desires and passions that are there.  Become fully alive.  Deal with whatever wounds or blockages that press us down so you can live.   Imagine how life would be if we, and those around us, were engaged in fulfilling work that we were passionate about.  Giving to those around us out of joy.  We might not even have to change “jobs” as our hearts change.  Maybe we do. 

 Let’s not wait for everyone else to “get with it”.  Let’s start, one by one, to live passionately, fully alive to our hearts desires.  The world is waiting, desperately.