I am going to do a little writing experiment this week. For the next five days I will post a short, devotional style entry around the theme of something I like to call Demotivation. If motivation is the sexy superstar of self-promoting, Demotivation is the ugly little sister nobody likes to talk about.
So let’s see what we can discover together about the ego-shrinking concept of Demotivation.
Mediocrity
mediocrity is excellent in the eyes of mediocre people. (Joseph Joubert, french essayist, 1754 – 1824)
I was watching a tv show that included an interview with a superstar extreme athlete. His commitment to a lifestyle of workouts and competitions is in deep contrast to regular folks who play sports for fun. “Dude, I just like to keep it simple,” he recounted as some people respond to his militant-like devotion to physical achievement. “Well, yeah, keeping it real is keep it really mediocre,” he snorted as he puffed up with peacock-like pride over his superior athletic talent.
It got my grrr going which is why I probably remember the soundbite.
Mediocrity is so misunderstood. We slap it on ourselves like a badge of shame to try to motivate ourselves into a better version of who we are. Is that really the way to inspire our imagination?
In the realm of faith, the common life is mistaken for mediocrity. I met a man one time, a gray-haired hippie who oozed with self-loathing over his quiet, unassuming life. He felt wrecked upon the heap of insignficance as he assessed his life as mediocre. Yet here he was, living a stable life, working hard with his own hands to provide for his family, and he was healthy. I can tell you that my dad, who became crippled by his forties from a cruel disease called rheumatoid arthritis, would have traded with him in a heartbeat. (not the family part, but the healthy part!!!)
There are a kazillion sermons and books and teaching series on how to Not Live a Mediocre Life. I feel bullied just thinking about it. Who decides whether or not my life, or yours, is mediocre?
I think it’s time to pay attention to our mediocrity and call it what it is: ordinary life. Most of us most of the time for most of history, are everyday, common men and women who live our lives in unassuming steadiness. We are not the history makers or agents of change. We are not the reformers or revolutionaries or revivalists of faith. We are commoners. The peasants of the kingdom of God who do not look for grandness in the great scheme of things, but are content to possess meaning in the mundane and obscure.
Own up to your mediocrity. It’s a gift in disguise.
He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. John 3:30
Did this post resonate with you? Pass it on!
This is just what I needed…you have no idea.
I was JUST feeling depressed about how although I am working hard and following a normal path of life, I am not doing “great things” in the eyes of the world.
God works in mysterious ways. Thank you!
I like what you’re saying. It ties in with a talk I heard on Sunday where the point was made that the Christian ‘self-help’ (i.e. goal-obsessed) movement was at odds with the reality that it’s Christ in us doing the wonders — that we get into trouble when we try to do His job for him — particularly in the areas of self-transformation. ‘Without me you can do nothing’ is painfully humbling to admit to — especially in this self-made-person country — but it’s the kernel of the Truth. That said, I think it’s important to make ourselves available to anything God may ask of us — and, really importantly, to set no limits on Him, and where he might take us.
I once had a pastor tell me that mediocrity is
(1) sitting at the back of the church
(2) not volunteering
(3) not going to bible study
(4) not going to wed night services
(5) not sharing your gifts (which meant, whatever you are good at you better use it for the church fundraiser!)
Wow! I don’t so any of that stuff!
I am SO mediocre!
hey anne! thanks for reading and i appreciate your kind remarks.
honestly, the thought of an ecellent– history-making-ground-braking-kind of life seems quite tiring!
this made me smile! totally, it’s draining to be a superhero!
hey donna, absolutely, love how you point out that there is enough complexity in just existing to keep you busy. Abso-effin-lutely!
Hi Erin! LOL over your insight.Aim low. If our egos will allow us to. I know there is a huge tension here of when to strive for excellence and when to settle for What Is. This is in part why I am writing about this concept, to help myself explore that friction of when enough is enough and when enough is not enough. For sure, I am already a huge believer in that we each are supremely high achievers simply because we exist. That is an astounding feat in and of itself. As for our individual potential, physical and intellectual and spiritual, well, those are the caves I am mining for hidden treasure.
Thanks for mining along with me!
The key to achieving more is to have lower standards.
Works for me!
Brilliant!! I love this concept and am glad you are pursuing it more. There is SO much beauty in the simple moments that make up our ordinary lives…and pain…there is enough complexity in just existing to keep me busy!!
Amen :-) Like your blog! And the thought of mediocre life is very appealing. Because, honestly, the thought of an ecellent– history-making-ground-braking-kind of life seems quite tiring!