[pianotech] The big discussion

[Mr. Mac's]

Susan,

You have expressed some tremendous stuff about the caring aspect, and I deeply appreciate you sharing that.
Not only did you help in further qualifying my comments, but gave some beautiful examples
   of extremely important realities in working in a field of service to others.

However,
Passion by dictionary definition is not a caring act, though some may think it is.
And caring by dictionary definition is not remotely akin to passion.

I see caring as a sustainable act of commitment.
I see passion as a temporary, unreliable and unpredictable emotion and unsustainable.

Not saying that experiencing passion isn't exciting while it lasts, but someone, or some thing
   usually gets trampled in the process.

These days I do my best to remember and honor the caring things you mention,
   and opt out, if at all possible, passion.

Sincerely,

Keith McGavern

On Jan 27, 2011, at 11:49 PM, Susan Kline wrote:

> On 1/27/2011 9:09 PM, Mr. Mac's wrote:
>> A person can still be of tremendous service to a community when the heart and passion factors
>>    are no longer at the forefront of one's life.
>> 
> I think, Keith, that you just answered your own question. Being of tremendous service to a community (and I certainly think I am of service to the local musical community in particular) is a strong part of the heart and passion David Andersen was talking about. 
> 
> Having heart and passion doesn't mean that we won't experience something akin to drudgery with some tasks, on some days. But we know it is FOR something. When we stop caring whether or not the little student has a decent working instrument to learn on, or whether the old lady can play her hymns without hurting her arthritic fingers, or whether the music school can hold a concert without the pianist complaining (especially if we no longer even want to hear the concert!), that is truly the time to stop, IMO. The world itself is a gift to each of us. We need to find good work to do which prevents it from turning a featureless gray, out of simple gratitude for being here. 
> 
> Susan Kline
> 
>