What’s Your Side Project in Redemption?

My dad has a friend named Irv. Irv’s lifelong passion is working on cars, and I’m not talking about classic roadsters or sexy sports cars. The beater everyone else has given up on is more Irv’s speed. He relishes showing the world he can get another 30,000 miles out of that old Buick.

I don’t know what Irv’s day job is, but he lives to slip on his jumpsuit, step into his garage, and get his hands in the grease and metal.

Irv reminds me of this theory I have. It’s nothing scientific, just a pet hypothesis I’ve been nursing for a while.

It goes like this: the thing that makes life worth living is a side project in redemption. A little piece of art on the side that you’re loving on.

A beat-up car you’re restoring. A manuscript you’re tinkering with. A scrapbook you’re creating. A child (or adult) you’re helping. A triathlon you’re training for. A dish you’re perfecting.

Whatever that is for you, keep doing it. Better yet, do more of it. Stop watching so much TV and attend to your art instead.

That’s what we need from you.

That’s where your desire and the world’s need come together.

At this point I’m supposed to say that if you work really hard on it, this side project will become your day job. And of course this does happen. Jon Acuff wrote a great book on the possibility.

But what if that doesn’t happen? What if this is always just a side project for you?

So what?

You see, I think sometimes we hijack what’s possible now because it can’t live up to our hopes for it.

We crush the now because we’re afraid of then.

But that’s crazy. Better to let go of those expectations and just do your thing—today. Don’t worry about tomorrow. A wise man said, “Tomorrow has enough trouble of its own.”

But today. Today you can make a choice to engage your passion.

Today you can tell the other voices to go to hell.

Today you can be the artist you were made to be.

What’s your side project in redemption? 

P.S. This blog is mine.

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Categories: Creativity, Goals

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7 thoughts on “What’s Your Side Project in Redemption?”

  1. Wow, this message is straight from God and has been exactly my heart lately. If this blog is your side project then there’s the proof right there of how valuable and what a blessing to ourselves and others our side project can be. Thank you, Chad.

  2. I love this post. Thanks for turning off the TV and answering your passion.

    I’m not sure what my side-project is, because all of the things I love consume much time and become full-blown obsessions. I’m a one-track-mind person.

    But I’m going to think about working for the joy of creating and carving and cleaning. I’m going to stop worrying so much about where they’ll end up once I’m done with them. I do my best work when I do it for the sheer enjoyment of it.

  3. I re-finish antiques. The worse condition I find them in, the better I enjoy the project. Last Fall, I bought a bird’s eye maple dresser and matching commode (a stand for a pitcher of water and a bowl) for 65$. They were sold at a charity auction for 950$ !! Curious, check my FB page and see the outcome.

    • Wow, what a transformation! I really enjoy doing work that I can actually see when I complete it. I can certainly understand why you would derive enjoyment from this work. Talk about redemption!

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