We Are All Self-Employed

WE ARE ALL SELF-EMPLOYED

I think I got that thought from the book Making A Living Without A Job by Barbara Winter.  It is true that we choose where we will be employed on what terms and what we will or won't do for money, benefits, security, and meaningful work.  Yet there is a bit of a conundrum as most of us who want to work on our own terms also like to eat.  Which is why so many of our parents tried to redirect us if we said we wanted to be an artist, writer or musician.  Sometimes they discouraged us to aspire to greater things and settle for safer things.  Oh yes, youth does lend itself to dreaming, but age and experience to settling- to compromise or...resignation.

It use to be in this country most people were self-employed.  Around the Industrial Revolution came the switch that more people were working for someone else.  The change was from making a life to making a living.  Instead of working on our own American Dream now we could work on someone else's dream and still get enough for ourselves to be comfortable.  It was safer this way- let someone else take the risk.

Things have changed.  Employers and companies are looking to increase their profit margins, they don't regard employees as helping them to build their dream.  Employees are not as loyal to their companies either and they don't believe the boss is looking for a win/win, risk is everywhere.  Lower wages, less opportunity to move up the ladder, an emphasis on profits over pride in what is produced- all these things are contributing to more people using their skills to create a job rather than waiting for some HR department to look at their resume and call them back.

My father in law worked at one company from age 19 to retirement at 65.  My Dad worked for a company for 26 years and they closed the doors one day in the late 70's.  He never recovered from that loss.  In contrast, I have worked in 3 very different fields (real estate, ministry and education) and held numerous other short term jobs in between.  They both thought it shameful that I had to collect unemployment.  Neither of them had a college education.  What was wrong with me?  Things have changed.

What do you want from a job?  Do you want greater earning potential?  The ability to travel while you work?  Freedom to work from home?  Flexible hours?  Creative freedom?  A desire to do more meaningful work?  These all come at a price.  Comfort and risk ar in opposition in this equation.  There are opportunities but anyone who takes them needs to leave laziness and self-doubt at the door.

How does one design a career around a dream?  I believe that I got this idea from Chris Guillebeau (Must read: his books The Art of Non-Conformity and The $100 Start Up)- he said that you should imagine the Perfect Day- waking up in the perfect place, working the perfect work on the perfect schedule, having the perfect life- even describing the house you are in, the clothes you have in your closet, who is around you and what you have for breakfast.  Write all this down- the whole day.  The purpose is to slowly begin to move in the direction of that Perfect Day.

If you can't see it, you will be it.

I will leave you with one thought, I got this off Pinterest:

Making a life change is pretty scarey.
Know what is even scarier?
Regret.

Picking Fruit

PICKING FRUIT    

Blueberries $1.86 a quart.  Pumpkins $2.50.  Apples $3.98 for a 5 lb. bag.  At these prices you might wonder, why anyone would want to pick their own fruit?  I grew up in Michigan, where apples, blueberries, cherries, peaches and other fruits are plentiful. Fruit farms are abundant there and picking your own fruit is a common practice.  Within 5 miles of our farm were a dozen orchards and fruit farms.

In a day when fresh is defined as “a couple days old” or “refrigerated but not frozen”, many people have never experienced the joy of eating a fruit just off the vine, tree or bush.  There is an undeniable value in handpicking food for your family.  Maybe it doesn't take much skill to select fruit.  Having the freedom to choose the choicest berries off the bush and not just accept from the grocers produce department a plastic quart container half full of berries you would have not picked outweighs the convenience for me.  We have become a people who cannot recognize quality fruit, let alone whether that fruit is ripe.  How many times have you heard a person asking aloud, “How do you know if this is ripe?” in the produce section?

The next time your kids (or grandkids) say they are bored, load them in the car and take them to the nearest fruit farm and give them an experience that will reconnect them with the natural processes of growth and the intentional miracle of a harvest. Your local grocer’s produce sections for their cheaper prices and convenience, cannot compare to farm freshness.  If you are fortunate, you might be able to show them how fruit is graded, juiced, processed and packaged for market.  Go ahead, make a memory today.

Bearing fruit

I had this moment last night when I realized what a failure I am as a Christian. Is it humility?  I am not so sure, it might be.  When there is nothing in your life that seems to be bearing fruit, when you are not engaged in using your gifts, not engaging with others, and have no resources to give other than time, talent and energy...a person can feel like he is just taking up space.

I have heard whispers in my ear in the dark that I am just not as good as I think I am at music, at ministry, at teaching, at caring for others, at writing, at life.  Events have transpired that would seem to confirm some of that, and I am the worst person to ask regarding my abilities and true gifts.  I am so insecure and blind when it comes to perspective on myself.

Part of this comes from not really feeling like I have anything to contribute at our current church.  Normally I have been in the worship band and youth ministry but my friend Scott Pagel has such freedom and skill on solo guitar and vocals - he has such a sweet spot in the song of God sung over us that I dare not attempt to add any more.  There are only a couple of teens so no youth ministry seems warranted.  I know I am good with kids, but who wants a fat balding guy for their youth leader anyway?  I think sometimes I should find a church, ANY church that needs a worship leader and help them out.

And missions... I use to be so active in the mission field, in serving others and supporting helpful organizations, but I haven't done a trip since 2009.  Haven't worked in a soup kitchen in a couple of years, Habitat for Humanity folded in Lebanon, we have worked at Matthew 25 a few times- I guess I am feeling like my faith is not bearing fruit.  That it is all talk and no action lately.  There must be more than words.