Beech Tree News Network

WORK ETHIC

Upon occasion, I still miss watching my son play ball, he chose not to pursue that particular endeavor past little league, though. Baseball is one of those sports where I don't really enjoy watching it on television but I do enjoy it live. I will admit to probably being too concerned with the outcome when my son was playing, that was stupid on my part, in reality, the most fun was watching him go from not doing so well, to looking pretty good, upon occasion. He made the move from outfield to infield and I saw, that with a little hard work, he had some real potential, something I would have given most anything for, when I was at a comparable age, alas he chose not to go that route.

Our youngest child did choose to be involved in other extracurricular activities though. My wife was heavily influenced by her own experience with her high school band, she never learned to play an instrument that I am aware of but in her particular high school, that was not necessary to participate in the “color guard.” Her fondest high school memories revolve around that experience, so when we had children, there was little room for discussion, joining the band was an absolute given. Our eldest child followed in her mother's footsteps and joined color guard as soon as she was eligible but in her case she was required to also at least become somewhat proficient at an instrument, but “the guard” was still what it was all about for her and though that ended after high school, she also remembers it very fondly.

With our youngest child, “color guard” really was not an option; well I guess it could have been,(not really) but the trumpet was chosen as his way of participating in the band. I took some lessons with a stringed instrument when I was younger and regret giving that up prematurely but I never even learned how to make a sound come out of a brass instrument, so I could not assist him there. I am not tone deaf though and I know what good music is supposed to sound like. To tell the truth our youngest child struggled a bit here too, doing alright but nothing exceptional for quite a while. Shortly after he started his second year of High School though, I heard some sounds coming out of his room that actually sounded like music and he was producing them, in fact it was kind of impressive. He has continued to improve and though he is still not at the level of Louis Armstrong or his favorite jazz player- Wynston Marseilles yet, he is creeping in that direction.

Our youngest child also took up an activity in High school that kind of surprised me at first. He joined what is known as S.U.P.A or Students in Performing Arts, what many of us refer to as the Drama club. Neither of our children are big on being put on the spot or being singled out, so it surprised me a bit that he joined. He has a taken part in a few school productions and had a fairly substantial role in a play he auditioned for, away from school. I am one proud dad watching him perform and in my biased opinion he does quite well, even when he thinks otherwise.

I have more insight in to this side of my sons character. Performing a role is something I can relate to. Even though I still get a little nervous when speaking in front of a crowd, I found that, that nervousness goes completely away when performing a character. Writing, acting, performing, now I can readily identify with that. I am proud of both my children; after a little rocky start to college life our daughter is once again bringing home the consistent high marks we grew accustomed to during her whole time in school. She is Daddy's baby girl and all fathers know just how special that bond is but my son, there is no doubt, is a right-brain personality like me, so I identify with his struggles the most.

The love is equal but it is just a different relationship. After witnessing some of the transformations in our son, I had a short but serious talk with him about work ethic, about striving to excel once you discover what it is you are gifted at. That is my greatest wish for both my children, that they find where they belong, where God would lead only them.

A “work ethic” is not about, “doing unpleasant things in order to have access to pleasant things or to get a reward.” A work ethic is not “a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work in creating character.” A work ethic should be the same as a “play ethic.” In sports we have to focus and concentrate, we have to exert ourselves physically, emotionally and mentally to really be good, yet; we call this “playing a game!” It is not about earning a reward or compensation, it is about finding the passion placed in your heart and listening to that whisper from God ; “this is what I meant for you!”