On Being Ordinary, or common

The world is obsessed with fame, or at least notoriety. We are, as a race, continuously seeking approval from our fellow humans, affirmation that we're 'ok.' It had escalated in recent years (or perhaps generations) to the point that it has sadly become more important for us to receive adulation, acceptance, admiration, than it has to look for what is right.  One of the things I struggled with as a child was the fact that my mother ALWAYS compared us to each other, and most of us were regularly lacking. There were generations of her mothers who had felt less than special, my mother was the oldest, but not the favourite of my grandmother, and then my aunt had died. My grandmother was the oldest daughter, but the baby was the favourite. And my Great Grandmother had been banished from her home when her mother died of a broken heart because her favourite children, twins, had died crossing a lake in winter. 

I was certainly never the favourite, still am not. And I've always felt that while my mothers all went to church as young girls, I don't believe any of them were ever well taught their Lutheran faith. Their hope was in approval and affection of the people around them. 

I, like every other young girl I know of wanted approval when I was a kid. Usually I heard accolades like, "well that was fine, but your sister did better." or "pretty good for someone who didn't try very hard." 

When I was a young teen it bothered me and I dealt with it by switching gears or quitting. Sometimes I think it comes from being of a line of people who moved on to the next thing. 

Somewhere along the line I realised that I couldn't please people because I wasn't perfect, I was just me. And then I started learning more about our faith as Lutherans. 

My mothers (grand, great, etc...) were all raised Lutheran but, sadly, I don't think they were well catechised enough to understand that we can't be perfect, God was perfect for us. And that's where things have diverged for me. 

I am who I am and I can do what I can do. In fact I can do a lot of things, fairly well, with ease. And some things take a little more work, and some a lot more work. One of my failings is I do tend to stick to the many things I can do well enough without working too hard at it (which gives me more time for the many other interests I have). 

Anyway, what I've determined is that good enough is perfectly fine. As good as everyone else is also perfectly fine. I don't want to be the best. I don't want to be the smartest. I don't want to be first. I want to be me. And ordinary average me is absolutely good enough. 

Because God loves me, ordinary me, average me, imperfect me, jack of all master of none me. He died for me whether I'm first last or in between. He died for me whether I'm famous on TV or I'm never on TV (and Please, I'd rather not be on TV again, I had my 15 minutes many years ago and I don't need them). He loved me enough to reconcile Himself with me, rather than requiring me to be perfect for Him so that I could spend eternity in His presence. And I am content with that.

My prayer for my children is simply that. That they Love God and Love their Neighbour, stay curious about the world, and are content with what they are given. Certainly we always try again, and strive for better, that's human. But this obsession with being the most, the best, the smartest out of everyone ever. Well, there's only one of those. And unless you really are a genius and are able to be THE smartest. Be content with who you are and be you, certainly be the best you that you can, but you don't have to be more than you. and fame is over rated and comes at too big of a cost most of the time. 

History may be told about the movers and shakers in life, but it largely ignores the vast bulk of society that just lives their lives. The irony is God does not. He died for each and every one of the common folk and the movers and shakers. And when our trust is in Him and his forgiveness found in Christ. Ordinary isn't really quite so ordinary.  And when our trust is in being special to man, being special isn't all that special either, because it will not last. So, I will continue in my many vocations, and I'll be perfectly happy to be ignored by history because God loves me, and that will last for all eternity.