As a teenager, I wrote the following lyrics:
Time for graduation, quick, choose a vocation
You know a piece of paper's everything
But Your job will not bless me,
your money does not impress me
I'd rather work for Jesus Christ my King
You study and you labor
To gain a mere man's favor
Working nine to five to earn your dime
You keep your Bible clean, you serve the god who's green
is it really worth most of your time?
don't ask me questions anymore
i'm just a traveling troubadour
that job is good enough for me
I realized than, and am still convinced now, that our true career is to follow God's course, and see vocation in spiritual and creative terms. Especially when the artist is doing a crap job that "sucks." (for temporary, seasonal bill-paying.)
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed three times, "Not My will, but Thine be done..."
I'm finding myself constantly praying that, to let go of my agendas and ego, and flow with His will. I recommend praying this so we are not conformed to this world and our own pride does not get us off track.
Take time this week for an "artist's date," (as Julia Cameron calls them in her wonderful book, "The Artist's Way".) Simply put, do something fun, all by yourself, that interests the little child, the artist within. Something that stirs your passions.
Praying, playing my guitar, independent and classic films, journaling, the Beatles, poetry, Dairy Queen blizzards, editing my feature film "Aimee Semple McPherson", and a good cigar have kept my sanity and happiness this week.
Stay as right-brained as possible in this left-brained world. It's a matter of life and death.
