I dare say it is not at all impossible to be exceptionally good at anything you set your mind to. All that is required is time, persistence and an example of excellence to strive for. Let me tell you about my own journey and why I chose to learn from excellence.
When I was very young I listened to a lot of music and played a lot of drums, even going so far to build my own individual drums. Money was scarce back then, in the stone age as it were. As song after song permeated my eardrums I never failed to identify with the drummer and the rhythm he or she was performing. Forty years ago this was accomplished by listening to the radio. In the off chance the DJ would be playing a song featuring a well accomplished drummer, I had struck audio gold. Most of the time however, listening to music was accomplished by way of vinyl LP's, 8-track or cassette tapes. Old school technology that in the present day is no longer "economically viable" or desired.
Be patient, I’m getting there. First, let’s define our terms:
ex·cel·lence
/ˈeks(ə)ləns/
noun: excellence
the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.
"a center of academic excellence"
As I progressed in my pursuit of music, I made it my ambition to identify and listen to the best drummers I could find. I would listen to the audio tracks over and over, memorizing and playing along. I figured that if I could play the drum track just like they did, I would sound halfway decent. Later if life I realized that as an added benefit I was unknowingly training my mind to observe details closely and scrutinize them passionately. Sadly, looking back I subconsciously had no intention of becoming a professional drummer. If I had, I would have taken actual lessons and learned the essential rudiments all good students of music must endure if they are truly desirous of mastering their instrument.
Little did I know that from a young age I was mastering a concept that would benefit me later in life. Learning from the best people in their particular field of excellence allows you to avoid the pitfalls and failures of those who choose to learn from the mediocre or ignorant. That may sound unsympathetic but life is better and more abundant when lived with excellence. Excellence is a choice. It represents hard work, long hours and persistent time away from other things that like to steal away precious moments of time. It is not always attainable but it always remains available to strive for. Not only in my example of musicianship but as father, mother, sibling, student, employee, employer, athlete, the list is endless.
Now that I have a few more years credited to my life, I often think of when Jesus said "Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect". He knew that we could not fulfill this request. In my opinion, He was giving us a goal to strive for. This should not cause anyone despair for I believe it is a win/win situation for all of us. Knowing that we can't be perfect at anything we do certainly takes the pressure off, don't you think? But we can certainly be excellent at what we do. I suppose setting a goal of perfection to strive for allows us infinite room for growth and endless possibilities for creative exploration.
Be encouraged and be excellent in everything you do, or at least make every effort to.
Jim
I enjoyed your entry. When Jesus said, "Be perfect. as your Heavenly Father is perfect," He was setting up for the period of the condition the disciples would function after their experience of Pentecost - when the Holy Spirit indwelt them. So excellence and perfection was not an objective to strive for but rather a release of the perfect One, Christ in you (Romans 8:9). Much of what Jesus said during His time with humanity, was to set them up for when He was gone. He knew all of His commissions were impossible without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.