There is a natural rhythm to artistic work. It shouldn’t be rushed or forced, but, rather, it should be integrated into the core of our lives.

I have a dear friend, who is a writer. She recently posted on Facebook that writing is a JOB. She actually capitalized the letters, which made the statement sting all the more. Writing, or any artistic pursuit, is more than that. It is a calling that should be approached with reverence. Well, one can approach it with reverence on a good day. On a bad day, we might just gnash our teeth at the process. But never should art succumb to being considered just a job, capitalized or otherwise. We are deeply invested in it, on a spiritual plane.

I can make a guess at where the allure of such a definition comes from — reckoning that art is nothing more than a job. My friend was wanting to differentiate herself from the hobbyists, those who may pick up a pen or a brush only when the mood strikes; otherwise, they are not much inclined to chase down that artistic inspiration. They can take it or leave it.

She is fortunate enough be in a position where she can to rely solely upon her artistic endeavor for her livelihood. She has made such bounds and leaps of faith, found grit and determination, and stumbled upon good luck – let’s not forget that – in order to find herself in that enviable position, of being to write on her tax forms that she is really an artist. There must be some pride in that.

But she is missing the point. In achieving her dreams, she is not elevating craft by defining it as a JOB, but rather lowering the whole enterprise to the dull drumbeat of the nine-to-five. We all aspire to something more from our tireless devotion to our craft. Find your own natural rhythm to your calling – let that guide you, instead of the time-clock.