Larry VanHouse
This Little Light of Mine
My journey into the world of work began humbly enough, with a job that paid only one dollar an hour on a neighbor’s farm, helping to prepare the soil, plant the crops, pull weeds, pull more weeds, and finally, if you did everything right, the bugs stayed away, and the weather cooperated, you got to the harvest. It was a small farm where the sun was my clock and the soil my playground. Back then, the value of a dollar meant little to me—it didn’t mean much to anyone else either. What mattered was the learning, experiencing for the first time a sense of responsibility, the connection to the land, the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of my labor growing before my eyes, and hopefully, the farmer’s simple nod of appreciation.
Working on that farm taught me lessons that no classroom ever could. I learned the importance of hard work, the necessity of perseverance, and the simple joy of a job well done. Each day, as I toiled in the fields, I was instilled with a deep respect for the value of honest labor and the beauty of nature’s cycles.
As the years passed, my journey took me far beyond those familiar fields. I explored different careers, always chasing the next paycheck, the next promotion, the next big thing. But no matter how much money I made, something always felt amiss. There was a hollow space within me that no amount of financial success could fill. It was during this period of my life that I began to understand a fundamental truth: it’s not about how much money you make; it’s about doing something you are passionate about for the people you love.
Eventually, this realization led me back to my roots, not literally to the farm, but to the essence of what that farm job represented—working hard with my hands, following my passions, and making a difference in the lives of others. I started to seek work that aligned with my values and passions. I pursued projects that excited me, that I believed in, and that had the potential to positively impact others. The satisfaction I once found in the soil, I now find in the joy of creating, serving, and contributing to my community.
Working for yourself is not without its challenges. There are days of uncertainty, moments of doubt, and times when the weight of responsibility feels overwhelming. But there is also unparalleled freedom and fulfillment. The freedom to chart your own course, to follow your dreams, and to work on what truly matters to you. But whether you work for yourself or choose a career path that has you reporting to someone else, the fulfillment of knowing that your work has purpose, that it serves others, and that it reflects your deepest passions and values is priceless.
Today, I wake up each morning with a sense of purpose and excitement. I no longer measure my success by the size of my paycheck, but by the smiles I bring to others, the positive impact of my work on the people and community I care about, and the joy I find in each day’s tasks. I have learned that true wealth is not found in material possessions but in the richness of a life lived with passion and love. My journey from the farm to where I am today has been a long and winding road, filled with lessons and discoveries. It has taught me that working toward your passion, while challenging, is one of the most rewarding paths you can take. It’s a journey of self-discovery, of finding what makes you feel strongly about something or someone, and of making a meaningful difference in the world. It all started with that simple job on a farm, where I learned the value of hard work, the joy of a job well done, and the importance of doing what you love for those you love. Success is more than a destination; maybe it’s not a destination at all but a journey.
