The passionate pursuit of excellence...

Father, your creation declares your greatness and lovingkindness, encouraging statements of pure truth in our daily walk... Can one be TOO passionate about taking on the challenges that this life brings each and every new day? I've always been the type of person that plays to win, not to casually play, but to passionately seek victory, for to do otherwise, in my limited way of thinking, is to accept mediocracy! Some would and could and perhaps should argue the illogical nature of NEVER accepting anything less than my very best, to be laser-focused on doing what needs to be done every moment of every day. It's illogical because failure in this life is inevitable, why take it so personal, why expend so much energy. But I've discovered a mystery revealed in living this life to its fullest; success must be discovered in one's best effort lest the failures of this life drive us down into not caring enough to care the next time we're challenged to excel. The key is to find the right prospective, the spiritual prospective; "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) These are the ways of Christ Jesus, to run the race EXPECTING to win the prize that awaits those dedicated to the cause at hand, exactly as Jesus lovingly demonstrated to us so many years ago… Thank you, Jesus, for showing us that you are the way, the truth, and the life; THE answer for those committed to seeking the truth in all things!