Superman and the Trash Guy.

My favorite non-fiction author, Donald Miller, said the following in Blue Like Jazz:

“Writers don't make any money at all. We make about a dollar. It is terrible. But then again we don't work either. We sit around in our underwear until noon then go downstairs and make coffee, fry some eggs, read the paper, read part of a book, smell the book, wonder if perhaps we ourselves should work on our book, smell the book again, throw the book across the room because we are quite jealous that any other person wrote a book, feel terribly guilty about throwing the schmuck's book across the room because we secretly wonder if God in heaven noticed our evil jealousy, or worse, our laziness. We then lie across the couch facedown and mumble to God to forgive us because we are secretly afraid He is going to dry up all our words because we envied another man's stupid words. And for this, as I said, we are paid a dollar. We are worth so much more.”


I love that quote!  I can relate to much of it, except I do not sit around in my underwear.  Haha.  But my favorite part is the end- "We are worth so much more."  That is so true.  But he doesn't just mean writers you know. 
 
I believe each person alive was created to do something very specific and unique with this one life on Planet Earth.  It requires a set of skills, talents and abilities only you possess.  Sure, many people could theoretically sell dishes at Target or flip burgers at Burger King.  However, there is art in every task, even those we might call "throw away" or low-paying jobs.  I am not talking about the rude teenagers taking your food orders at McDonalds...although if we all really knew what was actually in fast "food", we might thank them if their rudeness inspires us to stay away.  But that is a health tangent for another day. 
 
Many people don't have a clue as to what they truly have passion to do in this life.  Others know and are afraid to pursue their dreams.  Some people make a great paycheck and the money lulls them into numbness to their true callings, while most of us just make a paycheck and are happy to survive another day. 
 
But we are worth so much more. 
 
I don't have quick answers to "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  There are a million resources out there to help with that question.  I am simply bringing attention today to the fact we should be asking it... every day until we have answers and can move forward into that knowledge.  Otherwise our whole world will be grown up versions of rude teenage employees at McDonalds.  Don't you want to change the world?  I know I do.  And we have the ability to do that- regardless of age- if we can realize our passion and live it. 
 
And don't ever belittle your passions, dreams or abilities- we need the Trash Guy just as much as we need Superman. Just think, if Superman spent all his time hauling our trash off the planet and dumping it into other galaxies, he wouldn't be a very effective Super Hero, would he?  Plus, he would probably pollute Mar's second cousin planet because he wouldn't understand how to dispose of battery acid in a safe way.  Are you seeing all the problems this would cause? 
 
Be who you are meant to be.  We ALL need you to be who you are destined to be.  Thank you Trash Guy and Superman. 
 
I am off to throw Donald Miller's book across the room, beg forgiveness, and go earn my dollar. 
Peace dear readers.