Potential is Privilege

the greatest sin is settling for mediocrity

We’re all engrained with a bit of courage to do something greater than ourselves. To make an impact in some sort of way. Whether that’s something revolutionary or helping people within our community, creating art, the list goes on.

I think we are both lucky and a bit cursed to have so many options as careers. The more options, the more excuses and distraction we have to be led further and further away from what we’re supposed to be doing.

These distractions do not always have to be distractions though. To have distractions are opportunities to get closer to the truth. The truth of which path we’re meant to be on.

It would amazing to get a clear answer as to what that path looks like but, at the same time it wouldn’t be. There are great lessons to be learned in creating the path yourself. Figuring out what you love and what you hate, what you’re good at and what needs more help. If it was all given, none of it would have any value.

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To surrender and accept that we are along for the ride of creating the path is step number one. All of the time we have left is the potential to do something greater than what we’re doing. Continuing to grow as a person, bettering others around us, and showing up with excellence to every situation we’re met with.

The potential is a privilege

because tomorrow we could not wake up and it would all be over. We would regret not having taken opportunities to find out if that was the path or not. We would regret not taking action out of fear or acceptance. We would regret not spending more time doing things we loved. Not making a difference with the gift that was given to us. Instead our time was filled with distain, wonder, paralysis, regret for things that have already happened and not taking action for how we could change what is to come.

What is never filled with regret is: doing everything with love,

choosing a path that we love with the people we love,

working hard,

constant curiosity,

showing up with conviction,

commitment,

passion,

excellence.

This is greatness.

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I encourage you to think about your path.

Who’s on the path with you?
What is the next step on the path?
How do I make this path greater?
Where is the current path headed?
Why am I headed down this path?

The path should never come to an end.

When there is thought that the path will be over as soon as something is achieved, you must let go of that and understand that is another stepping stone to continuing on the path- maybe a turning point.

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WHAT I’VE BEEN READING

Knowing God by J. I. Packer

This has been such a powerful book. One of my favorite segments came from a section I read two days ago. The section was about trials that we’re faced with- hardship in other words. Packer goes on to explain that “God in his wisdom means to make something of us which we have not attained yet, and he is dealing with us accordingly.”

Trials bring great lessons, and these lessons are not just for you, but others as well. Later on in the passage he references 2 Cor 1:4 “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

What good is our knowledge if we do not use it to try and help others?

I have still been reading the Bible in chronological order which has been fun.

Some other fun reading:

Ingram by Louis CK. - One of my favorite comedians- just released this fiction story about a boy’s life. I haven’t started it yet, but plan on it after I finish Knowing God.

The Mundanity of Excellence by Daniel F. Chambliss - A short but good read.

Daniel F. Chambliss // “But once given a standard-for example, the highest speed over a given distance we still can define excellence provisionally as consistent superiority in meeting that standard. Then we can ask, as I do, what characterizes the people who meet it. This is what I attempted in Mundanity.” I wanted to understand the nature of excellence as it is enacted.”

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