What Do You Play For?
I once had a piano teacher ask me what I played for. I don't remember what I told him. It didn't matter. He told me why I played, why anyone plays, because they want to be loved. At our core, he said, we want an audience to see us, and hear us, and love us. It is the gift we earn in return for our offering.
Is it possible that this is the reason we do most things? Our work, our calling, our creativity? I see it in my work. The way I feel when I hit the "send" button on every report to a client. Let this be what makes them happy. I see it in the face of my father, smiling as he hands me his writings about faith and belief, hidden in a plain envelope, asking me to, "Show it to someone and see if it's right. You know a farmer doesn't get taken seriously." Please let my gift be good enough. Please love me for it.
Is it possible that this desire, what we might consider our greatest weakness, is responsible for our greatest accomplishments?
What do you play for?
Is it possible that this is the reason we do most things? Our work, our calling, our creativity? I see it in my work. The way I feel when I hit the "send" button on every report to a client. Let this be what makes them happy. I see it in the face of my father, smiling as he hands me his writings about faith and belief, hidden in a plain envelope, asking me to, "Show it to someone and see if it's right. You know a farmer doesn't get taken seriously." Please let my gift be good enough. Please love me for it.
Is it possible that this desire, what we might consider our greatest weakness, is responsible for our greatest accomplishments?
What do you play for?
I recently became involved in mentoring inner city youth who are in a state run facility by court order. A number have made bad decisions and now paying the consequences. They need hope, direction and an understanding that someone cares for them. It started with 1 day per month and quickly changed to a weekly contact to develop the relationship needed for them to share.
Why am I doing this? Part of it is a calling. Part is the importance of helping young men change direction. Part is some internal wiring that implores me to do meaningful service. Yet,through this experience, I am finding that I am the one that is being blessed and rewarded. Strange, because that is not what I thought would happen.
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