Somewhere in my dim and distant past I read a brief article talking about the different mindsets with which people approach relationships. One was labeled the romanticist. In it, the person enters a relationship with the expectation their partner will magically make all of their troubles disappear. This invariably leads to disappointment. When left unchecked it can deteriorate into a non-reality based disillusionment when the partner demonstrates they are as human as the one holding assumptions based on escapist fantasy. It’s an understandable mindset; after all, very few of us would watch a love story where they key dialog consisted of, “I love you. Now shut up and take the hit when happily ever after never gets here.” Still, it can be a relationship killer. Not to mention a vicious weapon with which to self-inflict deep wounds. Looking to another to do what can be accomplished only when you are willing to allow Christ to carry it out, and even with that only when you are open to Him working inside you along with doing the work He commands you to do in terms of how you act and think, is wishing on a fool star.
The mindset isn’t reserved solely for boy meets girl. It also applies to the paycheck gathering portion of the proceedings. How many of us are living the dream when it comes to our employment? Even should we have the job we’ve always wanted, how often within that scenario is what we wanted what we want? Spock was right. After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting.
It’s be nice if we who believe could simply slap on a Colossians 3:23 smile (“whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men”) and sail through the stormy seas of 9 to 5 untouched by crashing waves. Yeahright. And Twinkles the happy pixie will be riding by the office on her magic unicorn tomorrow morning to bestow unlimited material wealth on one and all, after which we will individually and collectively return to our duties so we may honor the profound loyalty and deep respect for us demonstrated by our employers.
It helps, at least a little, to understand there is a taste of nightmare among the ingredients in everyone’s employment recipe. Ofttimes it’s preferable to trade up in the nightmare category. But it’s still there. Taking this to the personal, I’d love nothing better than the ability to write all day. But at what cost? Churning out pop culture-laced garbage or political choir-preaching for the sake of maximum hits (read: maximum ad revenue) from the crowd following whichever way the winds blows, in no way caring about the messenger or each other as long as the message is brain candy flavored to their liking? No thank you.
Paul made tents for a living and preached on the side free from any concerns about possible compromise in his message for the sake of financial security. I can handle the day job giving me freedom to write. Sure it impinges on my creative time. But that’s part of the deal. My responsibility in the matter? Dealing. And discarding false romantic notions.
Speaking of the day job, one should never miss the opportunity to work some Gin Blossoms into the mix:
[video http://www.diecast-dude.com/gac/gin_blossoms_day_job.flv nolink]
