“I learned meaningfulness is found in how you do something, not just in what you do.”
-Jefferson Bethke
“I am just a painter. That’s not very meaningful at all.”
“Can you explain to me why it isn’t?”
“Well, I mean all I do is paint other people’s houses. That’s not very life-changing. And no one is really impressed when you say you are a painter. I used to be a pastor, now that’s a meaningful job.”
“So then everyone who isn’t a pastor doesn’t have a meaningful job?”
You don’t have to have a ministry job to find meaning in your work. You can change lives with any job if you approach it with the right attitude.
It took a while for me to find meaning in painting. I first had to separate my identity from what I do as a job. Yes, I am a painter for work but that is just a part of me not who I am.
There is more to painting than just slapping some paint on the wall. I am providing income to various people and their families. I get to bring joy to people through a new coat of paint.
How do you approach going to work? Be grudgingly? Or are you excited at what the day brings? Apathetic or ambitious?
Are you unappreciative or grateful that you have a way to provide for your family?
Work is a gift from God that we can show our appreciation for by giving our best every day.