When "Do Your Job" Isn't Enough

So I'm still glowing a bit from the Patriots' defeat against the Eagles.

The Patriots have a motto: "Do your job."  They are not wrong in this.  Doing what's required of you and what you've been trained for is important.  It accounts for all of their previous Superbowl titles.

Tom Brady has a very disciplined lifestyle and diet, and that's why he's still playing football at 40.

The Eagles, on the other hand, are a bit of a wreck.  They went through a lot to get to being champions this year.  They were open about it.  And they celebrated shamelessly.

My co-workers read about all the riotous celebrations in Philly--the greasing of poles, the overturning of cars--and said, like typical New England snobs: "We don't do that here."

It's true--we don't.  Here, we do our jobs.  We do not make promises that we do not keep, and we do not flake out on commitments we have made.  I moved up here for a job, and here, we get it done.

But sometimes in life, "Do your job" simply isn't enough.  Sometimes, it's about the messiness of passion, and the rollercoaster of emotions and creativity that help us defeat the winning team--the status quo, if you will.  The Eagles played their hearts out, and their fans erupted uncontrollably.  Isn't it important, sometimes, to let go of control?

I struggle sometimes between being disciplined and orderly and being passionate and spontaneous.  This is what I conclude today: do your job, to the best of your ability.  And when it's not enough to do your job, let destiny and the Divine help you get to places beyond your wildest dreams.  It happens, and it's the best feeling in the world!