"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."
- Professor Keating, Dead Poet's Society
Note: this is not about poetry. Keep reading.
Several weeks ago, one of my classes watched a clip of Dead Poet's Society to hear this quote. I have never watched the full movie, but what I heard in this short passage provoked so many different thoughts and emotions from me. I am an English major, and I go to a liberal arts school, so I know there are many others studying arts-majors. I don't know about any of the other people, but sometimes on this journey I have questioned my purpose or value, like am I wasting the associates in science degree that I got two years ago? Did I leave that path only as a mistake?
I sometimes wonder if something as "flimsy" as English is what I am meant to do, but at the very time these thoughts held my mind captive, I was hit by the quote from Robin Williams...it sent my mind buzzing as soon as I heard it. At the exact time when I was doubting this major of mine, I was slammed by encouragement about the very thing. Only God could have done such a thing. Of course we need all of the necessary things in life to get us by, but it is passion that we live for--passion to love people for Christ, passion for another person romantically, passion about experiences we go through, about hobbies, about adventures. These are the things we seek when we are not at our "day job." They are what make life matter, making the words that bring these feelings to life--poetry, novels, song--incredibly important. And whether this is the perfect major or job area for me is irrelevant if I am doing everything to serve God and follow him as best as I can. If that is the case, then he will eventually get me where I need to go.
But still, I worried what people thought of me seeking a path that does not guarantee a secure job. Although a struggle I didn't want to admit, it was an honest one. Of course, though, God knew it too. My devotional that very day could not have spoken into me more:
"Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what's the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need." 1 Corinthians 4:7-8
and...
"Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1
Both the devotional and the chapel speakers that week spoke about vanity in doing things to impress others or to elevate ourselves above them. God gave us beautiful gifts, each our own, to glorify and serve him. How sad it is that we would use them for anything else. And when we question whether things will work out or ask why certain outcomes do or don't happen to us when they happen to someone else, it is a sign of envy, of not trusting God. We must trust that our heavenly father is guiding our steps and that each part of the journey is just as he wants it. Whatever happens is in this plan or "race" that he has for us, and no one else's opinion about it matters.
And while all of that is easier said than done, the real encouragement is that God wants to hear our fears and struggles. He wants to know everything, because if he doesn't, then he cannot help us, and he will help us in any way that he can. Down to the very week and day that I needed uplifting, God threw the devotional, chapel, and the movie clip at me. He knew exactly what I needed, and he always does.
