July 15, 2009

  • Soft Power

    Dear Folks,

    I find more and more that it seems the greatest value I render unto others is not so much my professional services, but rather qualities and "services" which traditionally have been regarded as tendering far less value. 

    It brings to mind my New Testament professor from college, a Dr. Davis, who once noted that he believed that God uses him for greater value in merely riding around town smiling and waving to people he knows, neighbors and such, than in his primary profession. 

    He says this was how he felt because people seem to perk up and get such joy when he and his wife wave to them.  I have come to the same conclusion in my life, that my greetings to people and just small here and there social niceties, snippets of conversation and whatnot, give people greater value than the sum of value transferred in my teaching.  And this makes sense, at least if you look at what I have actually done in response to this growing awareness.  Over the years, I have gradually cut down my teaching from in excess of 60 hours per week (with more hours total counting non-teaching hours) to close to ten weekly hours.

    Another thing I see where I will be moving more and more in that direction is child care.  It seems that my hanging out with my children has greater value than the professional services I have rendered.  I watched "Sgt. Bilko" this morning with them, a movie about the US Army, a comedy with Steve Martin. When I watch movies, I tell them what various English words mean.  That's good for them, expanding their vocabulary.  I will add more to this later.  Gotta Go. 

    Love, Padooker