About Excellence

Lately I’ve felt like I’m stuck in the middle.  I didn’t have a word to put to this feeling, or a way of describing it, until a friend of mine and a few of her friends started a blog called Middle Places.  That kind of helped put a word to it, because folks, I’m currently in the middle.

I am in the middle of being a college student, wrapping up this last year, trying to do well and get good grades and finish strong (because let’s face it, I started strong but it surely didn’t stay that way).  I’m also on my way to moving to Cambodia.

I’m in the  middle of two big places in life, and I’m feeling stretched thin.

While stuck here, trying to focus on my goals for the year (straight A’s, though I’ll settle for a B+, and graduating to get to Cambodia), I’ve been finding it ridiculously hard to be motivated to do everything I’m doing with excellence.  Yes, I want those good grades.  But if I can skimp on a few things and still get those grades?  If I can only read every other paragraph and still understand what’s going on?  If I can zone out during class just to gain some sanity?

I’m having a hard time really doing everything I’m doing with a sense of urgency and excellence.

And then this morning I noticed a book of mine sitting on my desk (a bit dusty and half covered by old school papers, mind you).  The title?  Becoming a Woman of Excellence.

Bam.  Now, I understand that this doesn’t necessarily mean anything.  It’s not a sign from God, probably not, and it’s not a sign from my roommate to shape up because it’s my book and I bought it years ago and just never read it.

So I’m reading it.  It’s actually a devotional/study, so I’m working through it.  It’s a little cheesy, and boring in a few parts, but this is only chapter one.  I’m giving it a chance.  And hey, if it helps to motivate me to do everything I do with excellence, why not work through it?

I’m banking on God shedding some light on the dark parts of my heart during this study.  I’m betting this study will stretch me and pull me.  I want it to.  I want this study to make me think, cause me to action.