Here's the definition of the term "profession" from dictionary.com
profession (noun)
1. a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science
2. any vocation or business.
3. the body of persons engaged in an occupation or calling
4. the act of professing; avowal; a declaration, whether true or false
5. the declaration of belief in or acceptance of religion or a faith
The noun "profession" is usually used in a more bombastic context to replace the drab term "job". However when we look into the dictionary, we see some hidden element behind the term profession which the word "job" does not necessarily mention or include.
In the first point, when you go about your profession, you definitely require some knowledge of it, or else you wouldn't have gotten accepted for the post. Consecutively as you progress in this profession, you knowledge in this spectrum is expected to grow, or you would not deserve to call this your profession. Usually a dynamo of sorts is essential in driving us in pursuit of knowledge. This dynamo or force is a love for something, be it promotion in hierachy, earning, status, the enjoyment during the actual act of carrying out the tasks required for the job. Next, in the third to fifth points, the concepts of calling, avowal, declaration and faith appear. All this are highly related to the concept of love and do not need further elaboration. Thus, we can safely deduce that the critical element differentiating "job" and "profession", is the presence of love. If you love your work, it no longer is just a job, it becomes your profession.
The next question to ask ourselves is, how do we identify and define "love". Well, the famous 1 Corinthians 13 chapter gives us a lengthy insight into the concept of love as I'll transcribe it later. Below is a reflection on how I am performing in each aspect.
Kindness: joy in helping others.
Sad to say I'm calculative in this element, such that the amount I dispense is also according to how the other party has treated me first. It may be high time for me to throw away the bookeeping for how much to help others, in correspondence to how they much they help me.
Patience: accepting the imperfections of others
Drat! I am an epic failure at this one. Don't even dare to describe how I perform. I don't even show patience to myself, thus this causes huge misunderstandings on the part of many who do not know me, thinking I love to find fault with others. I do self-bashing much more than they know...
Forgiveness: Freedom from the grip of anger
Ok, my past track record at this was not much better than the previous aspect of patience. Thankfully the past five months have improved my performance in the humility aspect and this has rubbed onto the forgiveness part. Many old baggages of anger towards be it others or myself have been thrown away. The anger still simmers once in a while, but most of what I feel now is melancholy and wistfulness at how things could have been instead, if I had just been more humble, courteous and patient...
Courtesy: Treating others as friends
This one is kinda tricky, because different people treat others who they truthfully declare to be friends, differently. Thus when I treat other in a manner which I feel is already courteous enough, it may not match up to the other party's definition of how they feel a friend should treat them. This oversight in putting myself in others' shoes has been one of the major culprits behind the mayhem for the past five months. I need to remember to be conscious of how my friends what to be treated by me, not only how I want to treat my friends...
Humility: Stepping down to let others step up
Another chronic problem of mine. Many close friends have chided me for having this "I know better than you" mentality, when I tell them what's happened to me in the workplace. Even if my intentions behind giving an insider, more experienced POV is actually kind, it may not be taken so by the other party, because of the "I" term which crops up way too much. I must train myself to use the word "you" more instead while reducing the "I", and to change their sequence, letting "you" appear before "I" more often...
Generousity: Giving myself to others
I've shown fairly consistent performance in this area, since under the mentorship of Jamie two years ago. She's long left that place and so have I. However, she is the angel sent by God who has been propelling me in the discipleship of love towards my profession. I don't think I'll be able to show consistency in this area without her guidance under her tuelage then. And now in this new place, there are also other mentors whom I must remind myself to look up, lest I let up my diligence.
Honesty: Revealing who you are
Hahahaha. Seems like I have not much trouble underperforming in this area. In fact I overperform, such that it is too bare naked for some to bear. :p The confusion then comes in is the misinterpretation by others of the motives and agendas behind my naked honesty... Sigh... I may need to clothe myself in kindness, patience, courtesy and humilty more, such that they see better...
It's good to reflect on how my love for my work had grown since 2008. It can indeed be a profession, and no longer just a job for me. A final big thanks to God for having helped me identify my calling, and I pray for his guidance and care in helping me remain faithful in my love for it. Amen!
P.S. This blog entry was inspired after reading "Love as a way of life" by Gary Chapman. Anyone who feels the dousing on love in any part of their life, I would highly recommend picking this book up. Enjoy! :)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7 (NIV)
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