Average Or Exceptional?

Sunday morning I got to experience a sermon that really spoke to me. Our pastor preached a sermon that encouraged us to be part of the “Courageous” movement and to be willing to stand up for what we believe it, even when it isn’t the popular thing to do. One of the bullet points included a phrase that has stuck with me for days now, “Average or exceptional?”

I have been thinking about that phrase constantly since then. Bro. Bruce was wanting us to think about what kind of person we want to be, and whether or not we want to be an average or exceptional person. For me I immediately got to thinking about every part of life that “average or exceptional” can apply to:

Do I want to be an average or exceptional wife?

Do I want to be an average or exceptional mother?

Do I want to be an average or exceptional daughter?

Do I want to be an average or exceptional sister?

Do I want to be an average or exceptional friend?

Do I want to be an average or exceptional employee?

Do I want to be an average or exceptional Christian?

I  guess I’m a point in my life where I’m tired of settling for being average in regards to anything.  If I’m only shooting for average, then I’m selling myself short in so many ways. Average is only 50%, which is failing miserably. I should want to seek out perfection in regards to what kind of person I am to the people around me. I don’t want to be just an average wife/mother/sister daughter/friend or employee, and I certainly shouldn’t want to be just an average Christian. Every single person I encounter deserves better than average, and my Heavenly Father deserves far more than that. I wrote the words “Average or Exceptional?” on my bathroom mirror as a constant reminder to strive to be an exceptional person in every aspect of my life, and I feel like “average or exceptional” is going to be my mantra for this season in my life.

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message):