gapingvoid » love leter to god

those crazy, deranged fools…

Hugh MacLeod — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:41:36 +0000

[More thoughts on "A Love Letter To God"...]

A. Most people work for the money. Most people wouldn’t do their jobs for free.
B. Most people hate their jobs.
But I’m not thinking about “Most People” right now. I’m thinking about the small percentage of the population who want to love their work; who want to find meaning in their work… and are willing to work like hell to find out how.
Those crazy, deranged fools…
How do they manage to exist? How dare they exist!
Are you one of them? Just curious…
[Cartoon Title: "Good iPhone"]

a love letter to god, part two

Hugh MacLeod — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:05:10 +0000

Dear God, I just want to say ‘Thanks’ for this brief life you have given me. I tried to do something meaningful with it. I really did. Thank You.

In December, 2008, I posted the preceding statment on my blog.
Since then, I’ve been pondering what I exactly I meant by it. What exactly did I mean by “meaningful”?
When we say “Meaning”, what are we actually talking about?
I have a few thoughts on the subject.
[To Be Continued...]

a love letter to god

Hugh MacLeod — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:50:34 +0000

["Worship Ye". Drawn in 2006 etc.]
Merry Christmas!
A lot has happened in the last year. Here are some random notes:
1. The two biggest events that happened for me in the last year were [A] moving from London, England to Alpine, Texas and [B] starting my art business. The Alpine thing has been far more successful than I could ever have predicted. The art thing is still in its early days, so watch this space. And, of course, Thanks for the support!
2. I’m not claiming that Texas is Paradise, but it’s always been good to me here. Really good. I liked the Texans since the first day I moved here with my parents, aged ten.
3. My business is really based in New York City, my second-favorite place in the USA, after Texas. I go there once a month to take care of stuff; the rest of the time I’m here in the high West Texas desert, drawing and working [cartooning really isn’t work for me, he said, somewhat embarrassed].
4. My overheads in Alpine are about one fifth of what I was paying in London. I get a LOT more bang for the buck here.
5. Freedom is expensive. I found that out the hard way. Though it’s not as expensive as Slavery. I learned that the hard way, too.
6. The creative life is uneven. You have a few short bursts of genius now and then, the rest of the time you’re trying SOMEHOW to get the magic back again, mostly without success. It’s exhausting. I am exhausted, often.
7. My cartoons are what they are. I’m never going to get better, I’m never going to get worse. If you don’t like them, fuck off.
8. I never competed with other cartoonists. Musicians have always been my real competition. Make of that what you will.
9. I’m going to be dead in x number of years. So are you. What do we do in the meantime? Me? I try to love. I try to draw. I try to find the people and the work that inspires me. I try to stay grateful. I try to take care of business. You?
10. Dear God, I just want to say “Thanks” for this brief life you have given me. I tried to do something meaningful with it. I really did. Thank You. Merry Christmas! Seriously.