Estimated reading time: 4 minute(s)
The other day I was shaving with my electric razor, battling the persistent facial hair that never seems to tire of growing, and I really thought nothing of it. It was all quite ordinary. Once I had finished, I thought perhaps it was time for a recharge (I don’t often remember to do that…) so, I plugged it in. Just for kicks, I turned it on to see how low I had let the battery get. Sure enough, the blades whirred at least twice as fast as before, maybe more!
All I could think is how I had for so long been settling for less than the best. The plugged in razor represents what I could have on a full charge, had I conscientiously plugged in my razor each night. But, as that is not really all that important to me, I end up settling for less than the best.
OK, by now you’re thinking, “Greg… it’s just a razor. It’s just shaving! Aren’t you going a little overboard???” To which I will agree. It is only a razor. But, it is representative of much more that is ingrained in us as a culture and as individuals. We often will settle for less.
In every aspect of life, there is some amount of settling for less. We settle for less in our relationships, not striving to maintain clear and healthy lines of communication at all times. We settle for walls to exist, masks to be worn. We also settle for less in our jobs, selling our time and our souls for work that is not what we love simply to earn a paycheck to spend on things that make us need to spend more time at the job which we don’t love. We settle for less in our relationship with God, allowing others to live it for us, relying on the pastor to dig through scriptures and to hear from God for us. In so many areas, we settle.
And here is the battle that currently rages in my brain.
One side of me has either been trained to, or was born with a drive to not settle for anything less than the best. I will spend hours on a project that others might finish in under one hour. I will give way over and above what’s expected just for the sake of doing something the best it can be done. I am somewhat of a perfectionist. I work hard to do the right thing, and the best thing.
Then on the other side we have the part that is desperately trying to understand the concept of giving up control. Not trying so hard to manipulate the world around me into my image of what’s best. Trying to step back, relax, and wait for God – or even just another Image Bearer – to make his move. Not at all laziness, or in-action… just a pause to reflect, and to allow for God to lead, or others the freedom to be themselves.
Where does the drive to do and be the best end (not competitive, just a desire to not settle for less) and a grace-filled, gentle approach to life with God and others begin? Can they co-exist? Are we able to do or be both?
Welcome to my slightly confused world. 🙂
This carries over to some thinking I have been doing about all of the stuff in Scripture about how God says life will work best. Some call them commands, I think that portrays God in a different light than he lived as a man here on earth. He was not standing as an army general over the troops barking out commands to be obeyed immediately. He spoke wisdom and truth in the most amazingly humble and gentle manner. People wanted to follow. They almost couldn’t help themselves. Jesus did not water down the truth, or say some things were OK not to do. He said what was true, and somehow loved all of us, knowing we could never adhere to such a strict moral code.
So why should we strive for the best? We know we will fail, so why try? I maintain that I can’t do any differently. Sometimes I try, and it just kills me. I may have been trained this way by my parents, or teachers, or other influences as I was growing up, but I don’t think it’s wrong. I love to do and be the best I can. Life seems better when I do. I just need to figure out the balance between trying so hard and understanding I will fail. And others will too.
So, my razor is charged. My housework is nearly done for the day. I am learning more everyday about life in Jesus and how to follow him. Life is good.
The part I think that God is teaching me right now, and perhaps you would like to ponder as well, is that the world would not end if those things weren’t done. All good things are from him, and most anything I can accomplish will just fade away. So, I can and should strive for the best, but when the mark is missed, or attempts fail, my heart is at peace in my Father who loves me.
Never settle for less than the best, but rest in the knowledge of His love.