You're Highered!

Your qualities can't be measured by quantities
by Joy deVivre

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
by Michelangelo

"A workman is worthy of his hire." That's an age-old adage, familiar to readers of The Bible.  I used to understand this to mean that we should all expect a fair wage for the work that we do.  But that is not my current take on this phrase.  I have pondered occasionally how the idea of being adeqautely compensated for work done applies to volunteer projects.  Does the phrase imply that engaging in pro bono activities does not show appropriate respect for our talents and efforts?

Lately, it is dawning on me that the idea of being worthy of our hire has little to do with wages and compensation, and much to do with embracing our talents and allowing them to be fully utilized.  Certainly, the workman is worthy to be hired -- meaning surely each person's talents and skills are valuable and deserving of use ie employ.

My new business brainchild looks to be a niche enterprise... only, no one knows exactly what niche it fills as there is nothing exactly like it to which to compare or liken it.  Does that mean it is not a valuable undertaking just because there are not scores of people banging down my cyber door?

Many of the things I enjoy most are not considered favorites of the masses.  I am a classical music devotee and live in the biggest radio market in the country, Los Angeles.  Yet, there remains only one classical radio station in all of California, and that one is subscriber-supported.  The bulk of the listening public prefers country, followed by rock, pop, hip-hop etc.  I especially enjoy ballet and opera.  But among the small ranks of 'artsy' folk, only about 3% of the people who attend museums, musicals et al have indicated an interest in opera or ballet.  If you analyze the numbers, the popularity of  both of these art forms looks to be nil, and their futures grim.  As a result, do they view themselves as being unworthy or even unpopular?  Hardly.  Those involved in these classic arts know what they've got, and it is sublime. They understand their work and its worth is about the quality of what they are doing, not the quantity of people who embrace it, nor the amount of money generated.

As it applies to my own new venture, as well as the bulk of my activities, which are nearly entirely conducted on a pro bono basis, I intend to go forward with more confidence and even greater altruism, understanding that what I am doing is of great value because it is done with inspiration, obedience to revelation and that inner-compass which never misguides, and with a deep desire to bless others.  This is a higher calling than any offered merely by a high-paid salary or large fan base.  I am happy to be a niche enterprise, and know that no matter how small the niche, I will cheerfully fill it plum full to the best of my abilities.  For I most certainly am a worker, and worthy of my hire.

Pulling No Punches

Happy Boxing Day!
This UK-based holiday, traditionally recognized as a day to give a Christmas box of goodies to tradesmen, has become a symbol for many things:

• for giving to the poor
• for banks to close their doors 
• for churches to collect and dispense alms
• even boxing up leftovers to share with others
• and boxing up things that are no longer needed in order to give them to charity in the spirit of end-of-the-year clean-out

What a wonderful metaphor Boxing Day provides, not only for sharing our abundance, but dispensing with that which no longer serves or benefits us.  The same can be done with what we have been storing in our hearts and minds.

What ideas and attitudes are we holding onto that no longer fit us?

What emotional hurts are we clinging to, though doing so does us absolutely no good?

What unhealthy, dismal views of ourselves are we mesmerized by and buying hook, line and sinker even though those closest to us tell us we are flat out wrong?

My new Boxing Day tradition - starting today - is to give the old one-two punch to all the nonsense that tries to pose as my life and identity.  I am not just a list of statistics!  Nor am I merely a chronicle of past activities, successes and so-called failures or mistakes.  I am a person with a purpose and great capacity for love and joy.  And I am determined to k.o. anything that tries to suggest otherwise!

So watch out Grinch-like thinking... you're goin' down for the count!

putting on the gloves... with joy xo