Date: 4/15/2008
<br>Author: Devin Pickard
<br>Title: Do your best......
<br><br>“How hard are you trying.....I mean really trying?”  I have been posed with this question at times in my life by many different people.  Some interrogators were coaches, some were teachers, some were employers, and a couple of them even bathed me, fed me, clothed me and brought me into this world.  For whatever reason, those who had my success as their concern felt like I wasn’t giving it my all....that I wasn’t giving my full 100%.....that I wasn’t leaving it all on the floor.  There were a few times that I resented the fact that someone thought that I was just “going through the motions”.  I mean, how dare they call me out for coasting a little bit.  What gave them the right to chastise me simply because I was pacing myself.  Well, I can even go a step farther and tell you who gave them that right.....I did.  Resent it or not, all of those people who questioned my effort did so because I had already proven to them in times earlier that I could do better....in other words, I had already set the bar for my performance.  I can honestly say that while growing up, mom and dad never expected me or Bart to do any better than what our best would allow us to do.  Even if everyone else was making A’s, and the dead-level best we could do was a “C” (I am speaking of Bart of course), mom and dad would not give us (Bart) any grief.  But, if they had any inclination that a test, a chore, or a bath was not given our full and proper attention, we would hear about....sometimes we would even feel  it.<br><br>You may know someone who is just coasting spiritually.  You may be aware of an individual who doesn‘t even have their engine on.  You might be able to think of a person who right now who would win the “Spiritual Slacker of the Year” award, hands down.  The fact of the matter is, the “someone” above might be the person you saw in the mirror this morning.  “We” know “us” better than anybody.  Most of the time, we don’t have to hear from our superior to know that we aren’t “giving it our all.”  It generally does not come as a surprise to us when we get a “red letter” grade or when we receive a poor evaluation.  No, we know the entire time that we are not putting our best foot forward even as we have that shocked look on our face as if though we were somehow cheated or short changed.  If I am totally honest with myself (I find that most of the time I am the toughest person for me to be honest with) I know the only person who has cheated me is me.  I control my determination....I control my desire....I control my dedication.....I control my work ethic.....The responsibility is mine....The ownership of blame is for my embrace only.  I know it and God knows it.<br><br>None of the above words apply to the many of you who will read them.  A great number of you are doing a tremendous job spiritually and are giving it your all.  You are getting high marks not because you are doing “the” best but because you are doing “your” best.....you know it and God knows it.  But, there are some who need to take a look in the mirror and tell that person that it is time to start doing better.  Are you one of those people?  Have you been known as “Christian” in name but not in deed?  James says that “faith without action is dead”. (James 2:17)  As a child of God are you coasting in the slow lane on the interstate or are you breaking land-speed records on the Audubon?  <br><br>God knows what we are capable of....some more than others....some less than others.....but all capable just the same.  When you are giving it your all in practice you generally work up a pretty good sweat and at times leave sore and tired.  Don’t worry.....we’ve got plenty of towels and muscle rub.  God knows if you are perspiring or not.  If you weren’t sweatin’ before.....I bet you are now.  Let me get you that towel.   <br><br><br>Go the extra mile- Devin<br>