bishop blougram's apology

This wonderful poem by Robert Browning handles a key question in life: how much do you 'sell out' when you take a conventional career whose explicit goals differ from the implicit or hidden goals? It covers the same area as the 'changing the culture from within' argument which is balanced by the proverb- 'everything that goes into a saltmine becomes salt.

The poem is kind of off key because the young journalist is intent on proving the successful bishop a hypocrite and the bishop wants to take down the young man and quench is uninformed idealism. So it's a phoney war really since neither party is after TRUTH, they just want to win. But there is a vital argument going on that every college graduate has to face: do I get a high paying corporate job or do I do something I perceive that has more integrity?

My view from watching many of my generation do both is that those who 'sold out' don't regret it verbally though they suffer physically and mentally. Those that aren't fitness fanatics usually have health problems. What they almost all have lost though is a sense of joie de vivre and most of all: a light and playful sense of humour! Not all, but a majority- so it's a risk. You risk losing the ability to live in the moment, not in the party sense but in the deeper more relaxed connecting with all life sense...

Those who took the poor but honest path also have their fair share of mental health issues, as well as regrets about not preparing enough for the future. Unlike the previous group they aren't scared to voice regrets. But the noticeable thing is: they have kept their sense of playful humour.

My observation supports the assertion that everything that goes into a salt mine becomes salt. Eventually. I would counsel any young person considering a 'sell out' career that they have a very specific get out goal in mind that is under five years. Failiing that, work on keeping a playful sense of humour...if you value that...