Commit a Career Ending Move

A view from the river up the road from our home.

Isn’t it weird to read religious words in job descriptions:

Mission. Commitment. Passion.

I wasn’t looking for a bishop position, I just wanted to write code.

I spent my first decade of adulthood at a few startups. I sank my teeth in at a FAANG. I even took to the skies on one of those unicorn rides. On the surface, my career seemed like a dream, but it was a sacrifice.

I moved for my jobs. I strove for status. I prayed for promotions. I realized work is a religion replete with its own abusive priests. I needed more than a Sabbatical or a Sunday. I needed to leave my faith.

And I did.

In the Cities of the West, it seems careers have become a person’s highest thing. For a time, it was mine, but in the end, who cares if I became the greatest mason in Egypt. I was still a slave for someone else's grave. 

As a child, it seemed I was taught religion to learn discipline. Discipline was to be applied to education. And education was then to ascend to vocation. From vocation, came worth. No wonder we worship work.

After moving to a small town in the country, I began to do things that did not define my identity. Youtube, Photography, Writing, Reading, splitting logs, and living in the woods. I make music again, siesta with my spouse, and trade smiles with my son. A bit of work but a far cry from a career, now I can see the opposite of my upbringing. 

I began to believe I am worthy of the work I have been drawn to do. Settled with working, I delight in reading. Curiosity fuels my education and learning brought discipline. Then discipline helped me discover and enjoy my religion.

In the age of the ancients, the Latin word for mind and soul was interchangeable: Anima. In choosing my old career, I did not consider the matter of my mind or the state of my soul. Money and security were my beliefs but couldn’t make me whole. 

The careers of this world are concubines. Vocation isn’t worth our devotion. It took a career ending move for me to see mission, commitment, and passion are not for job descriptions. These are words of the worthy and when you are ready, a new beginning.

Until next week,

-Steven

Read the confession I made about learning Latin in On Remission & Rejoicing. Or join me in awe of The Economy of The Kingdom. To all my subscribers, my gratitude for each of you continues to grow. If you have yet to subscribe, use the link below.

Thank you to

Haley Brengartner

,

Miche Priest

,

Jeff Giesea

,

Alissa Mears

,

Andriy Kulak

, and

Tyler Collins

from Write of Passage Cohort 11 for your feedback on this essay. A special thank you to

Simon Sarris

for insights on the critical parts of this piece.