Laws of Making 8: The True Maker's Devotion Never Wavers

Making Monday

The second Law of Transcendence is that The True Maker's Devotion Never Wavers.

Devotion is, "ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle." The word comes from the Latin verb vovere, to vow. Other  senses of the word mean to set apart by vow, or to consecrate.

I've already discussed devotion as one of the unpopular virtues of the makers. But it earns a place among the Laws of Making because, more than a good idea, it is a foundational maker value.

The devotion of makers is best understood in terms of selflessness and loyalty or fidelity. You could express this, the second law of transcendence in colloquial terms, such as, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. And if it's worth doing right, you better see it through to the end."

You might point out that the Law of Devotion is similar to the First Law of Understanding, Love, and the Second Law of Living, Faith. And you would be right: the Laws of Making are like facets of a jewel that reflect part of something more elemental and inexpressible. But there are also important differences, the most important of which is that the maker stands with the thing being made, faithful and patient, even when no one else will, until it is finished.

If this is still too abstract, then consider what the parent of an infant does during the long months of sleepless nights. Is there a better word for that than devotion?


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