Working it Out
By Maceo Keeling –
There is an old saying that, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
It’s time to redefine some words within the African American community; words that seem to make a person cringe when they don’t understand the magic in them, especially the word “WORK.”
The legacy that work holds for our African American community is linked to the most abhorrent and difficult times of our American history, but it also illustrates our greatest accomplishments, which is our work ethic.
Another adage I have often heard is that “nothing worth having comes easy.” However, some things come easier for some people than others. Have we looked into why that is the case? Is it because we are witnessing someone who is “working” within their anointing? Have they possibly found their gift, or their calling?
Michael Jordan is a tremendous athlete in the game of basketball, but he struggled playing baseball at a professional level. Likewise, I would bet that Tiger Woods can’t dunk a basketball! It’s safe to say that many of us are gifted with a good mind, and nobody has cornered the market on brainpower, ability, or talent.
The moral of this story is: How do we pursue our passion and personal power?
Here are a couple of clues:
First, what is it that you like to do that gives you fulfillment? Possibly hidden deep inside this enjoyment may be something that you really like to do, and would gladly do all day if you could.
Second, have you ever started doing something that seemed like you were doing it for a short time, and you lost track of time and devoting more time to the project than planned? Perhaps your passion is hidden there somewhere doing the very things you like.
People have a tendency to gravitate toward their anointing, but often don’t recognize it. We don’t recognize our gift or passion because someone told us we didn’t have one—or that we couldn’t do … whatever we dreamed of. Many times our elders—teachers, parents, advisers, counselors—allow us to douse the fire of our anointing and passions. Often we tell them about our vision and then allow that influential person to tell us we can’t do it—without giving ourselves a chance to try. That’s what we do to ourselves!
Working your passion is the key to the door between you and your blessing. At first it may be difficult—though not so difficult when it’s your passion. How will you recognize your passion? You will know with certainty when the task presents obstacles yet you come up with solutions and push through them. With this you are harnessing the power that makes the difficult easy and possible! Time flies by, doors swing open, and a deluge of blessings shower over you!
Work is not something to drudge about, but to be embraced along with your blessing and passions.
So just remember: You don’t have to be great to get started but you have to start something to become Great!
Answer Your Call and Do Your Thing!
The Conscious Call radio program airs every Monday at 11:30 a.m. on WRES-FM 100.7. In a collaboration with the radio program, the Urban News will help keep readers informed about events, programs, news, and the progress of The Conscious Call. The opinions and statements made in this column are solely the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of the Urban News.
