pursuing excellence

As the coach and two high school girls ran by me on my morning walk in the woods, I smiled and shook my head in amazement. It’s early in the morning, the day after Thanksgiving and cross country season has just ended.

Yet what are these girls doing? They’re in training. For next year.

The rest of the team? Probably sleeping in after overeating yesterday. But not these two: They’re passionate about what they do and want to be the best.

I recognized both girls, not only because I often see them running at the park, but because they've received publicity as stars on the local high school team. In fact, both went to state this year.

But they’re not only high-achievers when it comes to cross country, they apparently have high aspirations in other areas of life. As they sprinted by, they were discussing a university’s graduate program.

So not only are they planning to go to college, they’re also apparently contemplating graduate school.

Why do some people excel when most of us just do okay, or maybe even a little better than okay? I’m not sure. I suspect things like personality, upbringing and inner drive all play a factor.

But for followers of Jesus, the ultimate motivation to excel isn’t any of those things. Instead, it comes from our desire to be all that we can be in order to please our heavenly Father.  

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”1

The context for that verse is the workplace, but I believe the principle is applicable in all areas of life, in whatever we do. The workplace, our home life, sporting activities, you name it.

“Whatever” we do.

·         So what are you doing right now? “Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

·         What will you be doing later today? “Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

·         What’s on the agenda for tomorrow? “Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

You get the idea.

Does that mean we have to get up early the day after Thanksgiving to go running in freezing temperatures? Maybe. That is, if we’re trying to excel in the area of high school cross country.

So how does this principle apply to your life? What are you involved with? Can you do better?

Whatever it is, I encourage you to not be satisfied with mediocrity. In fact, I even encourage you not to be satisfied with very good.

I encourage you to only be satisfied with excellence, with being the very best you can be.

And what’s our motivation? We’re trying to put a smile on the face of our heavenly Father, and in the process we’ll reach our full potential.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

1  Colossians 3:23