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"Can You Accept Your Reward?" ~ Knowing Our Lives Count ~
Rev. Paula T. Webb
"...Put trust in God, and in thy single might, if thou has hope that better things shall be; wait not till other hearts shall love the right, but strike the blow and thine own conscience free; fill all the days of life with deeds of light, and so make luminous eternity."
God and the Soul ~ Bishop John Lancaster Spalding
For a several years now, the Council has been giving out a number of awards.We initially started out with the Beacon of Light Award ~ presented to those who are making a difference in their communities.We then went on to add the Lifetime Achievement Award ~ obviously for those whose work has been beneficial for many years.And the most recent are the Honora Causa Awards ~ given to those whose written, spoken, or musical works benefit all life, through our new publication in 2009, the Spirit Book Review.
As Founder of the Council, I am proud to choose and then present these awards to each recipient ~ knowing how important it is for someone to be recognized for their efforts ~ especially in these interesting times.This past spring, however, I came upon what I thought was a phenomenon.When I approached several possible "award" recipients ~ I was not greeted with an excited "wow" but rather with the following question ~ "How much money do I get?"
Now, I had to stop and think that maybe my terminology ~ the word 'award' ~ represented something monetary to others.In my experience, especially in corporate America ~ to get an award meant receiving a plaque, a medal, a certificate or engraved statue of some kind ~ not any monetary remuneration.A monetary presentation, again in my experience, would come through a "grant" or "subsidiary" or "bonus" or "endowment."So, in my mind, there was no confusion as to the fact that the Council's awards were just that ~ awards with no apparent financial gain.
However, taking that into consideration while speaking with several possible recipients of our awards ~ after explaining that our awards do not entail any gift of money ~ I was struck by the lack of enthusiasm or desire on their part, to receive the engraved award, at all.Several of these possible recipients basically dismissed our awards as having no value at all, and one even became irritated that I had "wasted" his time, considering there was "no money coming his way." (His quotes, not mine.)
As those of you who know me are aware, I take my duties as head of the Council seriously, and put quite a bit of thought into each and every action.I have a strong belief, as well as experience when speaking with others, that as adults, we rarely get that pat on the back, or a nice word ~ much less an award ~ for our good efforts.And, therefore, the Council awards were formed.
If you stop and think about it ~ when was the last time you, personally, were 'awarded' or 'rewarded' for all your hard work?Last week?Last year?Five years ago?Ten years ago?Or can you even remember?
For myself, it has been rare in my life that I have been rewarded and to some degree that is part of why these awards were begun.I can distinctly remember the first award I got ~ it was for being a player on a winning softball team in Chicago, where our team beat out the eight-years-in-a-row regional championship team ~ and each of us got a plastic trophy of a softball player with the title of "Championship Softball Team 1989 ~ Chicago League" ~ and I proudly displayed that trophy on my bookcase in the living room of my apartment for years.
What are awards actually?
Let's stop and think about this.Maybe some or many of you reading this have garnered plenty of trophies throughout your younger days.And maybe some or many of you never garnered trophies at all.It doesn't matter either way.What does matter is how we look at how others perceive us.What do I mean by that?
How do we 'allow' others to perceive our merit?
Do we allow them to give us a pat on the back, or do we shrug it off and say 'it was nothing.'Do we accept that smile given to us and possibly give one in return, or do we stay in our own blue funk and ignore it.Do we accept a plaque or certificate, but quietly complain, if even to ourselves, that it means little because there is no dollar amount attached to it, and end up putting it in a drawer out of sight.
I'm sure each one of us has good and then some less-than-perfect days.And this article is no form of indictment at or to anyone.It is merely posted to, in the true sense of the Council, to give each one of us food for thought ~ to bring our highest thoughts into this process.The process of allowing others to reward, or rather award us ~ with their highest thoughts and intentions ~ for our efforts, no matter in what field or endeavor.
This brings us to another part of this concept.
If someone is hoping or waiting or wishing for some sort of recognition for a job well done ~ then in the truest sense of helping to create that outcome themselves ~ what do we need to be aware of?The rewards or awards that come our way ~ no matter in what form, shape or in what fashion!We cannot have a preconceived notion as to how any sort or any degree of recognition may come our way ~ why?
Because if you have a preconceived notion of the "how" you will be rewarded or get an award ~ you may be unable to truly see an actual reward or award ~ because you will only be looking for one certain thing ~ and not necessarily what might come your way in the meantime.If you are so focused on one type of award coming in one certain way or from one certain area ~ you will be unable to see, as many of us have heard over the years ~ the "forest for the trees."
And, let's say you really want a monetary reward for your work ~ who wouldn't?But in the meantime, someone or some organization gives you a plaque or certificate or some other form of recognition ~ how do you know that very form of recognition may not be used to propel you toward another type of reward ~ possibly monetary?Someone else who may see that recognition you received, from that person or organization, and say, hey this person has merit, let's have our organization pursue giving them a subsidy, or a grant and further their work.
So, these are my thoughts on what I thought was a random phenomenon ~ although it appears that this has become a part of our societal thought process. However, I believe that we, as humanity, have not lost touch with getting rewarded from another ~ that the recognition in itself is priceless.And, the Council will continue giving out our "Awards" to those who appear to appreciate them.Why?
Because by continuing to give our awards ~ we are accepting our reward ~ for being that higher thought, that answered prayer ~ to all life.
"...and all things shall see it together...for the Glory of the Lord hath spoken it..."