Mediocre

I was just watching THIS video, and it reinforced something I've been thinking about lately--mediocrity. Merriam Webster defines the word "mediocre" as of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance: ordinary, so-so. If you're at the top of the game in your relationship with God, your marriage, your parenting, your job--whatever it is--good for you! However, all too often, we settle. We settle for just getting by. For low quality. For ordinary. I'll quickly admit that I have been less than mediocre in my walk with God lately. I haven't read my Bible every day or spent quiet time. Many times, the only prayer time I've had is over our meals. Believe it or not, as a Christ follower, when I get lazy in my walk with God, it spills over into all of the other areas of my life. I'm tired of it. It makes me feel yuck. I feel like I'm just treading water without ever getting anywhere new.

Think about it. Even if you're not a Christian, I betcha that at least once a year you make a resolution to change something about yourself and your life. I also betcha that 90% of the time, you make the same resolution year after year. I do! Either you're going to eat healthier, exercise more, save more money, etc., etc. Same story every time. You start out good for a week, maybe even several months. Then, you get lazy. You get comfortable. You despise yourself for being so complacent, and the cycle starts again.

 What is it about our society that makes us embrace mediocrity? As a former teacher, I've seen more than my share of students who just want to get by. They don't want to be valedictorians. They don't even want to be on the honor roll. They just want to pass (and some not even that). Then, they either go to college or out into the work force and learn a huge lesson or totally bomb out. Where do you think they learn that kind of attitude? There's a whole generation (not every single person of course) who sits around thinking, Yeah. Whatever. Why does this matter? because no one is teaching them any different.

God has called us to do and be so many things--and He has equipped us for the journey. He's given us His Word, He's given us His Spirit, and He made us to excel in this life. We have no excuse for mediocrity. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be ordinary. I don't want to just get by. As my high school youth pastor used to say, I don't want to just survive; I want to thrive! We were created for so much more than plain ol' normal.

Don't be mediocre. Be extraordinary!