You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin’ as it flows
And a dreamer’s just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
It was 1991 and my Sports Walkman blared Garth Brook’s song The River. I was a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee and wasn’t where I wanted to be. Little did I know, though, I was where I needed to be. I was a custodian at Pope High School. And I had bathroom duty.
I walked down the 400 hall to the men’s room pushing my mop bucket. I had already cleaned my classrooms — I always waited until the end of the evening to clean the bathrooms. (Didn’t want someone using it after I had cleaned it.) I looked at my watch: It was 10:30 p.m.
I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
I was fortunate, the 400 hall bathroom at Pope High School didn’t get as much use as the 300, 200 and 100 hall bathrooms. And it was a boy’s bathroom, so (I know this will come as a shock) it was cleaner. No hairspray. No lipstick. No other yucky things.
There’s bound to be rough waters
And I know I’ll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all…yes
I walked in and saw that someone had stuck a textbook in the toilet and had pooped on it. (Yes, I have a young child). My friend Maggie still laughs at how loudly I cursed. I screamed profanity at the top of my lungs. I was mad. How could some little #$% be so inconsiderate? Who in the $#%# thought this was funny. And I really think that was when my attitude was at its lowest.
I cleaned up the mess and finished the bathroom and walked outside, trying not to gag.
“What the hell am I doing here?!?” I thought as I gasped for breath. “Why?”
I’ll tell you why. I was there to learn a lesson. I was there to be taught the difference between dreaming and making a dream a reality. It was at that moment I decided that I didn’t like cleaning crap out of a toilet. It was that moment I decided to start chasing my dream — and catching it.
I went to church that weekend and the preacher taught the parable of the Talents. I realized I was the servant who was wasting his talent. I came back that Monday with a new attitude and it changed my life forever.
Being a Pope High School custodian may not have been the best job I’ve ever had. But it sure was the most important. I had to work there. Not only did I work with amazing people, meet my wife (through her mother) and land a job at the local paper, but I discovered the importance of hard work and a good attitude.
I still listen to Garth’s The River (on my iPhone not Sports Walkman) and smile. Because I am still chasing my dreams. It takes me back to that 400 Hall bathroom where my career started.
I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry.