The Velveteen Rabbit

You know the story of the Velveteen rabbit becoming "Real."

Today in french class I was talking to a friend about jobs and she said something very revealing. We were discussing different jobs and she said, "well you don't have a REAL job." I looked at her quizzically and thought to myself-I bet that's what a lot of people think about me-even if they would never say it to may face. I mean what's REAL about a 33 year old woman hanging out with teenagers? Even I find it difficult to explain my job to others.

The other day I was sitting at dinner with 3 girls who were about to graduate the next day and a mom. We were discussing college decisions and so on. The girls were sharing why they felt that their college decision was going to affect the rest of their lives and where they might end up because of the name of their school. The mom- interjecting about the importance of getting a good job-shared a story of a family member who ONLY makes $18/hr and considers that a "real job"- I didn't say anything out loud but in my head I was thinking-wow! if I made that much money I would think I was rolling in it:) but obviously what I do does not make much money- so is it not "real" or "good"? The internal processor that I am- this idea of a "real" job rolled around in my head for a while. Is my job not good enough? Not real enough? Not meaningful enough? since I don't make much money. As the conversation continued the mom revealed that though she has a job that makes a lot of money she only gets to see her son maybe 1 or 2 hours a day. It was obvious that she regretted not being able to spend much time with her son. At one point in the conversation the mom looked at me and said "even though you don't make much money you are one of the happiest people I've met."

Where does that happiness come from? How, I a world driven by consumption, can I be happy making so little? It's because I have the most REAL job anyone can imagine. I spend my days with PEOPLE.

We live in a world of disconnectedness. I mean we have all the means to be connected but most of us waste so much time(me included) on our computers or texting on our phones that we are not even present when we are physically with someone. But here's the cool thing for me- In a world of broken relationships my job is to lead people to the One who can restore those relationships. I a world where everyone is disconnected, my job is to connect with people and make sure they feel loved and cared for. I get to spend time with a lost generation. A generation that I often think does not know what REAL relationships are. I get to live life with them, show them what a relationship can look like and introduce them to the most important relationship they'll ever have- their relationship with Christ.

I mean is there anything more REAL than that? That's what REAL, it is eternally real. High tech gadgets are nice, vacations to exotic places are fun, a new car feels good but are they REAL? Do they live and breathe and bring meaning to your life? Maybe having lived in so many different states and countries has made me value things differently. I mean when you move as much as I have in the last 10 years you have to decide what's really important. Sure I take stuff with me when I move-but the reality is that if I had a choice the thing I would bring with me every time is people-I always say- If I could get all the people from my different "worlds" to live in the same place-that would be AWESOME- a little slice of heaven!

So I think I have decided that my job is REAL. It's REAL because Christ is real and eternal and the relationships that I have with people are real because of that.

Here is an excerpt from the book VELVETEEN RABBIT by Margerie Williams that I think describes why I feel REAL today.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."