Why So... Not Serious?

Just recently, I was speaking with a colleague of mine. I had heard him mention philosophy, a topic of which I am rather interested, as many of you know. I am no expert in philosophy by any means; however, I do believe that I have probably read more about philosophy than 99% of others my age. Nevertheless, intrigued by the conversation - I am ashamed to admit I eavesdropped on - I walked over. I heard the person mention, “It’s hard to make philosophy not dry…” to which I was appalled. I politely butted in and said that I disagree, and we had a bit of a discussion about it. After a while, I was with the other dissenter, and so I asked him if he was interested in Philosophy. To which he replied that he was actually a philosophy major. Interested, I pressed for information. “Who’s your favorite philosopher?” I asked. The reply was, “I dunno, I don’t think I have one yet.” Naturally, I realized he’s only just beginning his tenure at university, so I asked, “Oh, what year are you?” He informed me that he was a senior, graduating next semester.

I was rather surprised by this. Surely, one would be able to develop an opinion about philosophers if they’d been reading them for four years now. I then asked, “Have you enjoyed philosophy so far?” He thought about it and said, “Yeah, I guess.” Then, thinking better of it, he added, “Yeah, I actually do enjoy it.” So finally, I asked him what he wants to do with his degree. “Um, I dunno, really,” he said. “I guess maybe counseling,” he shrugged.

This was an intriguing interaction to me. I had seen this colleague of mine have rather spirited conversations about a number of things. Sure, it could be that he was shy and didn’t know me well. However, there should be no topic that could get someone engaged in a spirited dialogue other than their field of academic study. I may not know someone from Adam, but if they come up and engage me in conversation about the CJ system, I am sure to get into a deep conversation with them about it. However, the lack of engagement is only a small part of it. What was most interesting to me was the detached way he offered, “I guess I’ll do counseling.”

There are certain jobs that one simply does. Flipping burgers at McDonald's, for instance, or working part-time at a coffee shop, stocking shelves – these are jobs that “one simply does.” One does not “do counseling, I guess.” That sort of profession draws the distinction between a job and a vocation. Something that often gets tossed out in the mix of profession seeking. Yet it's also indicative of something else: a shift in the collective imagination of people, particularly young people. Indeed, this is something that I myself have noticed about myself from time to time. This is something that I will call the Disneyfication of America, which in my estimation has done two things to our culture.

Firstly, what is this Disneyfication, and what exactly does it look like? Well, I would say that it has affected young persons who grew up watching the particular Disney teen shows. Those shows typically feature young rebellious girls and boys (usually girls) who defy their buffoonish fathers. Yet all the while, these kids cause mayhem and get into trouble yet never seem to reap any consequences. This is the root of the issue, and it has seeped into the youthful imagination namely, consequences no longer seem to matter or enter the equation.

While I worked at the Municipal Court, regularly - up to three times a week even - young teens would be brought before the judge. These youngsters would swipe an Apple Watch or AirPods from the local Amazon distribution center – $200-300 worth of products – not believing there would be any repercussions. Unfortunately, they were largely right. Many times they would only suffer a suspension from Amazon, and for a while, they would go through a deferred finding at the court. (Which essentially says they take a class and then their criminal history is erased.) That is until the judge finally had enough of these 2-3 cases a week. Nevertheless, deferred findings or not, you could see on the defendants' faces the pure terror and shock. They never imagined that swiping those headphones would end them up in court. Their whole lives, they had been able to shirk the responsibility of their actions.

The second problem that I believe the Disneyfication causes relates to my first story. Largely, young millennials and “zoomers” no longer believe that their vocation relates to labor; hence, one can simply “do” counseling. Rather, they believe that their vocation is much more a public or social action. As in their Instagram or social media presence. Or their vocation is their hobby, that pet project they sometimes work on the side with their leisure time. They simply wait for that hobby to all of a sudden explode and “voila” their vocation as arrived. Many people have come to believe that their vocations are those things like painting, or writing, influencing, or some such thing. They believe that this is how they will contribute to society and achieve their “self-actualization.” Not for a moment realizing that the greatest way to contribute to both society and yourself is to do what is before you to do with excellence. Never once believing that if they are slothful at their present job when they come home to work on their “true vocation” they will be slothful at that too. Instead of working on their painting, they will scroll through Instagram “looking for inspiration, don't you know.” I rather think that many people suffer from this at the present moment; certainly, I battle with that temptation.

Nevertheless, many believe that their “vocation” is something that must be recognized by the public at large, and feel good as well. If one doesn’t receive attention and accolades from it constantly, then it is not their true vocation. All the while, they take their current job, their current work, and shun that, never realizing that it too can become fulfilling. I understand the irony, as I currently host a podcast and write this magazine, hoping many people read and listen. However, I have long ago determined that I would continue to write and podcast even if no one paid attention. Moreover, my point is not that one should abandon their dreams and vocation. Rather, that a vocation is one achieved over a long time, one that is pursued by doing with excellence that which is currently before you. When you neglect your present job, your present work, you will necessarily neglect your vocation. That gift that was given to you by God must be tended, but so too must your immediate obligations. When you honor the small things, the big things grow. I believe it is an error to believe that our vocations will blossom while our immediate jobs wither. So pursue the small things, never failing to remember that there are things you’ll do - excellent things even- that will go unnoticed. There are consequences to our actions, and so when we dishonor the small moments and the sometimes menial jobs, that has an effect. Remember, that vocations and ministries don’t just rocket to the forefront of our lives; they have humble beginnings.

— Godspeed

Jonathan R Kutz