I’m currently reading another Clive classic titled Pilgrim’s Regress. Clive wrote this allegory in 1933 following his conversion from atheist to believer. Playing off John Bunyan’s bestseller Pilgrim’s Progress published way back in the day in 1678, C.S. Lewis takes the reader on his hero’s journey of discovery. Lewis’s book describes the journey of his lead character, John, as he attempts to reach his dream state, the distant island. Along the way John meets many characters who symbolize the philosophical leanings of the day. Midway through John’s journey he meets a man named Drudge. Drudge is a servant and he’s served under many, many masters. His work for another is, will, drudgery. I see Drudge every day, you do too.
Today, as I listened to my client describe his attempts to live a life of love, I heard him comment almost continuously that he is tired by his drive. “I want to be drawn to my opus, not driven,” he explained a little sadly. He continued to tell me he’s mostly drained by the weekend and finds the Sunday writing yet another thing he has to do. He is doing it. His heart just isn’t in it.
Therein is the heart of the issue. Your OPUS, remember, by it’s very definition is your labor of love. And, an authentic labor of love has drawing power. This is why the BTL builders take our clients through such a lengthy rinsing process. You can’t stop writing until whatever you’ve written makes you smile at just the thought of taking baby steps toward it – not for awhile, not for a season, not for a profit, not from drive, and not toward drudgery. You and I smile when we’re working hard toward something we’re drawn toward. Whatever it is, we’re lit when we’re in it. We may perspire. We may grow tired. Somehow, we continue to be drawn. The heart, you see, is in the labor. We learn to love what normal folk loathe, not because we’re driven or even super disciplined. Because we’re drawn.
Drudge. Driven. Drawn. You choose. John chose to leave his labor in search of his island. Along the way he discovered much more, you might too. Of course, this requires you to leave the comfort of the routine and take some risks along the road to your opus. Today, I encouraged my client to keep going. His labor of love is within reach, just not yet. He’ll know he’s got it when he can’t stop himself from doing it. That’s how you know. You’re drawn. Drudge. Driven. Drawn. You choose. Your choices have consequences. My coffee’s cold now and I don’t much mind. I’ve taken too long tickling the ivories. Funny, I didn’t sit down with my iPad driven to write anything in particular this morning.
I couldn’t help myself. Drawn…
BUILT TO LEAD 