Groundwork
First, let's name the three Or's:"I need to do something more potentially impactful with my life than making video games." That's the Get a Real Job argument.
"I need to convince myself once and for all that video games matter in the Grand Scheme." That's the Games Matter argument.
"It's not so much what you do, but how you do it, and who you are that matters in the 'changing the world for the better' sense." That's the The Job is Not the Point argument.
Do Games Matter, or should I Get a Real Job, or is it that The Job is Not the Point?
8 Comments:
I'm not sure that there aren't other possibilities, but I'd go with The Job is Not the Point with a smattering of Get a Real Job (an apparent contradiction, and one I have no intention of resolving). The problem with 100% GaRJ or GM is that few people have Real Jobs or Jobs that Matter. What impact on the Grand Universe does that clerk at the 7-11 have? Zippo. That doesn't mean that the clerk isn't a worthwhile human being, however. Nor does it mean that 7-11 clerk positions are worthless. We all have different abilities and ambitions. What seems best is to find a good match (but make sure it's legal). Once you've found it, then it matters more, or so it seems to me, how you do it. And part of that can be to make whatever impacts you can within the confines of that job. So, a 7-11 clerk who smiles at me has made a difference, however small that might be.
The job is not the point!
A job is to provide sustenance, not purpose. (Capitalism has screwed that all up.)
Don't be fooled, or you risk never being truly fullfilled.
(And BTW that doesn't mean you can't still change the world.)
(And BTW you aleady knew the answer.)
-random ;)
I'm going to have to go with argument #4...
"Do whatever drives you in this crazy world." That's the The Grand Scheme is Whatever You Make of it, Not What is Predisposed and Defined by Others argument.
The Job is Not the Point. It's how you earn money to take care of your family.
They are the Point (or one of the main ones, anyway). If you do no more than be who you need to be for them, you have done well.
As far as Changing the World... we all wish we could be a Luke Skywalker, or Captain Kirk, and save the universe, but chances are, any differences we make will only be on a personal level. And I've come to feel that is more important in the long run.
And in that, you have already Made a Difference, Bill. To me, and to many others. I thank you for being you. No matter what job you hold.
I was typing out a reply here, but it got a little long (and I wanted a record of it so I could come back to it).
So please direct your attention to Deg's Blog response. Sorry for the travel.
If you're happy and generaly fulfilled by the work you do (and that doesn't mean it's all roses all the time, but on average you don't dread your job), then you're in the right place. You don't have to do Great Works to have an impact. Even the little threads make up part of the tapestry. Sometimes, the way we make good in the Universe is by not being a danger to ourselves and others.
All three questions stem from grappling with one foundational commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your mind and all of your soul....and love your neighbor as yourself."
Do Games Matter?
Yes. They are an expression. Just as much as words are, but no more. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love..."
Should I get a real job?
You have a real job. I think the temptation is to assume we're not making a difference in people's lives because we don't hear them say we are. "Blessed are those who..." and "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them..."
The Job is not the point.
A life transformed by Christ is the point. How that transformation is expressed in our daily lives will on our particular talents, disposition and circumstances. Thank God we don't have to keep track of if we're being effective or not. That's not our job, anyway. :-)
Bill,
This is your Mom.
The job is not the point.
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