Moments that define us
I think "average" is one of the worst descriptions of anything. But it's a word that pretty much describes most people. "Average Joes." Existences governed by the widely-accepted attitude that it's okay to trudge through life and truly do nothing 'great.'
The trap of average expectations.
It dominates our careers. Our families. Our bodies. Even our dreams aren't safe from mediocrity.
Maybe it's easy to accept "average" as the standard when it sometimes seems so tough just to rise above the status of "below average." If you're 35 and overweight, it's easy to settle for slim and trim without ever pursuing a Vin "Riddick" Diesel or Jessica Alba physique. In a world where living from paycheck to paycheck is difficult enough, it's easy to stick with a menial job and celebrate that you can make ends meet.
So "average" can't be all bad, considering that the adage is certainly true that things "could be worse." And I admit it seems very cocky, arrogant, and even aristocratic to criticize it. It also suggests that I'm not happy in my current life situation.
But I am happy. I'm happy with my wife, my home, my kids, and my job. I've celebrated small things like being able to pay off a credit card debt. I've celebrated things like...watching my kid learn to get dressed on her own. Not a red-letter day like D-Day, but a huge day in the life of a toddler.
But what I hate about "average" is that - whatever "average" means to so many people - it becomes a comfortable shoe that we wear and never even imagine doing something more.
So maybe a better word/mindset to criticize than "average" is "comfortable." Getting so acquainted with the status quos we call our lives that we don't do anything other than what we're used to doing. And the culture dupes us into mediocrity.
Okay...time to quit beating around the bush and just say it:
Why is it so difficult to be passionate about making a difference in our world? I mean...beyond little things that people try to convince us are so important. It's more than driving a hybrid vehicle or recycling our trash. It's more than buying wrapping paper from the kid that comes to our door raising band money. It's even more than the 68 cents per day that guy with the beard on TV tries to convince us will make a difference in the life a child halfway around the world.
Maybe these things do make real differences. I a lot of people do "little" things like these, it's got to add up.
But doing something great has to be more than just a 'fringe' activity in our lives. To truly do something great, I think we've got to be 'sold out' to making a difference. Especially Christ-followers.
We've been duped into thinking that making a difference in our world is attending church once a week. Dumping loose change into an offering basket. Making sure we lead moral lives. Saying "amen" when the pastor says something cool.
Or maybe we think it's being an 'educated' Christian who knows the ins and outs of Calvin and Luther and premillenialism and transubstantiation.
Maybe we think it's voting Republican and scoffing at the poor girl who accidentally got pregnant before she was married. "What an idiot," we think to ourselves.
And Christian becomes a label we were both proudly and fearfully. We'll laugh at the foolishness of the world yet hesitate to pray in public at restaurants.
...
Instead, we ought to be sold-out for this thing that Christ was sold out for. Doing anything/everything to get the message of salvation into the hands of so many people that need it. Not settling for "average" (lukewarm) faith. Not settling for a comfy-cozy watered down Christianity that takes no risk in reaching people.
Passionate...desperate...for the mission.
As I look back at my life, there are few defining moments that illustrate this kind of passion in my life. Maybe there are. Point is, I feel 'average.' I've got a lot of things I want to do 'one day.'
Excuses.
I guess the trick is to get rid of the attitude that says it's all about "me." When it's about "me," I'd rather stay comfortable. I'd rather not take any sort of risk.
So what do I want? Do I want to look back at my life one day and say I was a good "Christian" as culture defines one? Or do I want to look back at my life and truly feel like I did all I could to make a difference?
Come on...this is so simple. I'm either sold out for God.
Or I'm just sold out for me.
The trap of average expectations.
It dominates our careers. Our families. Our bodies. Even our dreams aren't safe from mediocrity.
Maybe it's easy to accept "average" as the standard when it sometimes seems so tough just to rise above the status of "below average." If you're 35 and overweight, it's easy to settle for slim and trim without ever pursuing a Vin "Riddick" Diesel or Jessica Alba physique. In a world where living from paycheck to paycheck is difficult enough, it's easy to stick with a menial job and celebrate that you can make ends meet.
So "average" can't be all bad, considering that the adage is certainly true that things "could be worse." And I admit it seems very cocky, arrogant, and even aristocratic to criticize it. It also suggests that I'm not happy in my current life situation.
But I am happy. I'm happy with my wife, my home, my kids, and my job. I've celebrated small things like being able to pay off a credit card debt. I've celebrated things like...watching my kid learn to get dressed on her own. Not a red-letter day like D-Day, but a huge day in the life of a toddler.
But what I hate about "average" is that - whatever "average" means to so many people - it becomes a comfortable shoe that we wear and never even imagine doing something more.
So maybe a better word/mindset to criticize than "average" is "comfortable." Getting so acquainted with the status quos we call our lives that we don't do anything other than what we're used to doing. And the culture dupes us into mediocrity.
Okay...time to quit beating around the bush and just say it:
Why is it so difficult to be passionate about making a difference in our world? I mean...beyond little things that people try to convince us are so important. It's more than driving a hybrid vehicle or recycling our trash. It's more than buying wrapping paper from the kid that comes to our door raising band money. It's even more than the 68 cents per day that guy with the beard on TV tries to convince us will make a difference in the life a child halfway around the world.
Maybe these things do make real differences. I a lot of people do "little" things like these, it's got to add up.
But doing something great has to be more than just a 'fringe' activity in our lives. To truly do something great, I think we've got to be 'sold out' to making a difference. Especially Christ-followers.
We've been duped into thinking that making a difference in our world is attending church once a week. Dumping loose change into an offering basket. Making sure we lead moral lives. Saying "amen" when the pastor says something cool.
Or maybe we think it's being an 'educated' Christian who knows the ins and outs of Calvin and Luther and premillenialism and transubstantiation.
Maybe we think it's voting Republican and scoffing at the poor girl who accidentally got pregnant before she was married. "What an idiot," we think to ourselves.
And Christian becomes a label we were both proudly and fearfully. We'll laugh at the foolishness of the world yet hesitate to pray in public at restaurants.
...
Instead, we ought to be sold-out for this thing that Christ was sold out for. Doing anything/everything to get the message of salvation into the hands of so many people that need it. Not settling for "average" (lukewarm) faith. Not settling for a comfy-cozy watered down Christianity that takes no risk in reaching people.
Passionate...desperate...for the mission.
As I look back at my life, there are few defining moments that illustrate this kind of passion in my life. Maybe there are. Point is, I feel 'average.' I've got a lot of things I want to do 'one day.'
Excuses.
I guess the trick is to get rid of the attitude that says it's all about "me." When it's about "me," I'd rather stay comfortable. I'd rather not take any sort of risk.
So what do I want? Do I want to look back at my life one day and say I was a good "Christian" as culture defines one? Or do I want to look back at my life and truly feel like I did all I could to make a difference?
Come on...this is so simple. I'm either sold out for God.
Or I'm just sold out for me.
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