n. a person who engages in a pursuit on an unpaid rather than a professional basis.

n. a person who is incompetent or inept at a particular activity.

The origin of the word amateur is French, and refers to a person who does something for enjoyment as opposed to employment. To be an amateur is to do something for the love of the thing. To be sure, the term “amateur” has taken on the connotation of something being done poorly, but we are in an age where even something being done professionally does not mean that it is done well. We are in need of a return to amateurism at its best: a desire for things done well due to the inherent worth of work.

This website is a collection of articles and short essays (don’t worry, the essays don’t bite) about society, culture, work, and creativity, with a mote of theology and philosophy thrown in for good measure.