Are you doing enough of what you want? What you love?
I was inspired last night by composer Gwyneth Walker, who came to the rehearsal of my choir, Marylhurst Choral Union. We are singing two of her pieces at our concert this Wednesday. It was wonderful to have her listen to us sing and comment on our performances.
But even better was listening to Walker talk about her work. She loves what she does. She makes a living as a composer, not an easy task. She left a tenure-track position at Oberlin Conservatory when she was in her 30s to try to do just that. She said when she was teaching she didn’t have enough time to compose. Now she does it all day. Even when she is traveling, she composes at least a little every single day.
Walker said, “It’s too much of a risk not to do what you love.” We usually think of the risk being just the opposite. But in fact, we do risk getting to the end of our lives never having spent enough time at what is most important to us.
Even when you love the church and love ministry, it’s easy to get so caught up in the necessary that you don’t have time for the things that make your heart sing.
Launching out into the unknown, as she did, may not be the right choice for you. But doing more of what you want and what you love every day, every week, every year, will enrich your life—and that of those around you.
What do you love to do the most?
What one thing related to that could you do this week? (Yes, I know it’s almost Holy Week. Try it anyway.)