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In Star Wars Episode 8 ("The Last Jedi"), many fans were dismayed by the portrayal of Luke Skywalker as a disillusioned old hermit who wants nothing to do with the Jedi. Despite the fact that the movie (along with the entire dreadful "sequel trilogy") has an utterly illogical plot, unoriginal ideas and forgettable characters dressed up in glitzy big budget filmmaking, I've always defended the decision to portray Luke this way.
I can see how he who vanquished the evil empire (with a little help from his friends) would be overwhelmed with the weight of the responsibility of single-handedly resuscitating the Jedi Order. And when things didn't go as planned, it's easy to see how cynicism could creep in and steal his youthful idealism. This may be a silly example, but in the past few years I've come to see how Luke could become a grumpy old man. And despite unspoken vows to never be one, I've noticed myself slipping down the slope of Grumpy Old Man Valley. It's not like I have a good excuse. I've had my hard times in life just like everyone else, but overall I've had an easy life. I'm extravagantly blessed in every area of existence. I have no right to complain. What's more, in recent years my life has been more carefree than it has been in decades. My kids are pretty much grown up. I have the closest thing to a dream job I've ever had, etc. And yet, I'm noticeably more grumpy than ever. Aren't you supposed to become more patient with age? I seem to be less patient. I've become far more cynical of both people and institutions. Instead of thinking the best of others, I often tend to assume the worst. My sentiment is often along the lines of, “Yeah right.” Why is this? There are the typical reasons: I do feel like I've heard it all before. There's nothing new under the sun. Each generation thinks it’s different. “You don’t understand us–we aren’t like those pathetic geezers who came before us,” said every generation ever. As a teacher, I deal with what is politely called “academic integrity” issues constantly. I can usually spot it a mile away, and that includes using artificial intelligence to write that essay. The protocol that I’m to follow says to assume the student didn’t realize what they’re doing is wrong, and to work with them to avoid that in the future. But what I’d rather do is slap it with a zero, as a thought like “Quit cheating, you little punk!” flutters through my mind. Additionally, I feel like I’ve spent so much of my life waiting for others that I just don’t want to do it anymore. I know what I want and what I don’t, so stay out of my way! And I’ve found what works and what doesn’t, so therefore I tend to be “Stuck in my ways.” All this grumpiness is what the Bible would call “works of the flesh,” and I’ve seen where those lead. Though the Grumpy Old Man part of me may not want to “take up my cross,” show mercy “cheerfully,” and “walk in the Spirit,” I know THAT’S the way to go. What’s the result? Some of the “fruits of the Spirit” are love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, and kindness. I don’t have to be a grumpy old man–I have a choice. Here’s hoping I choose wisely!
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That’s a cheerful title…but it’s something I’ve been thinking about over the past year or two. I talked to a friend recently, and congratulated him on an article the local newspaper published about three books he’s written and self-published. The proceeds from the sales of his books go to a charitable organization.
He posted a link to the article on his social media, and received numerous “likes” and congratulations. And yet for all of that, the sales that resulted amounted to ONE book. He laughed it off, but seemed genuinely surprised. I wasn’t. I’ve self-published three books (one was written for a friend), and have released four albums of my own music (see my web site for details on all of the above!). Here’s the takeaway from my experiences: No one cares. Okay, not NO ONE, but a tiny handful of people (mostly related to me) care. Why? The main reason, from my observations, is that people are busy with their own lives, and don’t have time to buy and read/listen to my work. Also, modern technology has made it possible for average people to publish their own books and record their own music, which is wonderful, but it also means that every Tom, Dick, and Harry has his own book/album/etc. And now with artificial intelligence, there’s even more, as people are actually putting out music and books written by AI. So why WOULD I want to read someone’s book or listen to their new song? It isn’t just that I’m busy. What about quality? Is it any good? The average self-published book probably isn’t a literary masterpiece, nor is that DIY music likely to rival Mozart. In fact, odds are that it’s mediocre at best. So again, why spend my precious time and money on something that probably isn’t very good? It’s a fair question, and to be honest, I don’t buy most of the books, or listen to most of the music that ordinary people I know put out. I do try to give attention to as much as I can because I’m in the same boat. If I don’t give them a try, why should they give me one? Why should you even read this blog? I can’t answer that. But here’s my advice for those aspiring writers, musicians, and artists: don’t do what you do to sell units or “make an impact.” I hate to say it, but chances are that your creation won’t have much of an impact. Do it because you have to. Do it because you feel God leading you to (that’s the best reason). Do it just because it’s fun! When I wrote my first book, I harbored dreams of doing that for a living. That dream died an ugly death, but by the time I got around to writing and recording music, I didn’t care. My reasons were a combination of the three listed in the previous paragraph. This is who God made me to be, so in a sense, doing these things is an act of worship. A few people have enjoyed my work, and that’s a bonus, but that’s not my motivation. So by all means, write that book; record that song…but also put those dreams of grandeur to rest. |
AuthorI've included some old blogs along with the new. Should you ever find yourself suffering from insomnia, this is the place for you! That's as poetic as I get... Archives
April 2025
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