I was searching through my old summer camp files today when I came across my devotional speech from this past summer. The devotional is a tradition at my summer camp that requires all staffers, including directors, to give a 3-5 minute speech where they impart a life lesson on the campers. Since the camp has over 40 nationalities represented, devotionals usually range in topic from communication with friends to why people come to the camp.
My devotional every year used to be Baz Luhrmann's take on [Everybody's Free To] Wear Sunscreen, which was originally a fake commencement speech penned by Mary Schmich in the Chicago Tribune.
This season, however, after a difficult job search, I decided to open up about my career, and how I've taken to my numerous job rejections, while quoting Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Ulysses. It was certainly not the best devotional of this summer - that distinction belongs to a colleague who eulogized his best friend in one of the most moving speeches I have ever seen - but nevertheless, I believe it speaks to who I am and where I want to be.
Apologies for the pacing - it's much funnier when I'm broadcasting and wired to a headset.