Some jobs have a tremendous, long-lasting impact, and they tend to be carried out by humble, down-to-earth people. What is more, they often tend to be under-paid and even under-acknowledged jobs. Yet the people doing these jobs deserve our gratefulness, our respect, and places of honor in our communities. Each year on 9/11, Fenway Park hosts a memorial Red Cross blood drive, and this is an awesome moment to see some of these jobs being done and some of the people who carry out similar jobs. A tremendous group of medical personnel spend hours on their feet carefully screening the public and drawing blood. And there in the line of donors are Boston fire, police and emergency personnel. Members of the armed services, including the National Guard, also come. Moms or Dads with two or three small children wait patiently in line as well. It is rare to be in the company of so many civil servants, so many medical personnel outside a hospital, and so many parents teaching their children to give of themselves.
People who work for the safety, freedom and liberty of others are doing more than a job, and excellent parenting is a beautiful thing to see at work. Another group of heroes is not available at this time of day because they are in their classrooms teaching. It is such a mistake to think teachers work short days and are out on vacation for weeks every year. There may be a few who give as little as it takes. But there are far more teachers who arrive early, stay late, and spend much of their time off working on curriculum materials, projects, or continuing education. Once there was a retired high school teacher in his eighties. He received a letter one afternoon from a former student who explained that years ago his classroom presence, care and attitude had meant the world. In fact, the letter went on to say the student had been tremendously depressed, and this teacher had provided a reason to live. Every teacher has constant opportunities to shape lives and to shape the future. The best teachers seize those opportunities, understanding that their attitudes and care are as important as the information and skills they impart. Their jobs are surely far more than jobs.
Behind the scenes, there are many more jobs that are much more than jobs. Just consider the problems that arise when these tasks are done carelessly: suppose the hospital or nursing home is not cleaned well, the mechanic is careless installing brakes, the dispatcher responds poorly to the child who dialed 911, the builder neglects to fasten the stairway properly, the snow plow driver does not watch the road, the undertaker is crabby, or the coach ignores an injured player. Little things can mean a lot, and doing even small jobs carefully and well can help change the world for the better. Paying attention, plus adding the light touch of good humor, genuine interest in others and a willingness to go the extra mile can make a job a vocation.
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