ORDINARY but AMBITIOUS
The “Little Train That Could” tells the story of the majority, the average, the median, and the so-so. In this life, I have tried to be extraordinary at anything and come short. My efforts have not been half-assed attempts; I worked diligently at everything. Sadly, hard work often falls short of brilliance. Hard work frequently produces the everyday result.
What makes an extraordinary talent or ability? The answer is God, but why not me, God? Why are some people born genius prodigies in art, music, or writing? Then there are all the ordinary, average souls, working hard and toeing the line but never recognized by men for their accomplishments. I see people working in humble positions, serving others daily without recognition. It is the middle-class talents that hold the world together. I find this fact amazing. I constantly bet on the underdog.
Bible scripture has plenty to say about the average and the underdog. In God’s sight, He calls us to humility, and extraordinary people commonly have inflated egos filled with pride. God calls us to die of self, and pride is the most despicable of all sins—”The fear [reverence] of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate” (Proverbs 8:13). An extraordinary talent Willie Nelson country singer made the song, “it’s hard to be humble,” legendary. The music reflects Willie’s notoriety, fame, and struggle with pride, arrogance, and ego.
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
‘Cause I get better lookin’ each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doin’ the best that I can
[Verse 1]
I used to have me a girlfriend
But I guess that she couldn’t compete
With all of them love-starved women
Who keep clamoring around at my feet
Well, I probably could find me another
But I guess they’re all in awe of me (Oh man)
Who cares? I’ll never get lonesome
‘Cause I treasure my own company
[Verse 2]
I guess you could say I’m a loner (Yeah)
A cowboy outlaw, tough and proud
I could have a lot of friends if I wanted
But then, I wouldn’t stand out from the crowd
Some folks say that I’m egotistical
Hell, I don’t even know what that means
I guess it has something to do with the way
That I fill out my skin-tight blue jeans
[Chorus]
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
But I get better lookin’ each day
To know me is to love me
I must be one hell of a man
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doin’ the best that we can
Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doin’ the best that I can
In God I trust
We are all called to humility, but God always calls upon the average underdog to do great things in the eyes of God. Bible stories are filled with the unknowns and slight of strength, out-numbered, out-gunned, accomplishing extraordinary acts: Gideon, David, Moses, Daniel, and the twelve. Jesus did not come in glory; Jesus came as a typical carpenter born of the low class in a dung-filled barn. God tells us our ability or skill does not define us; we are defined by our Creator and all called to greatness in his eyes. But we often fall away into the desire to be somebody someday. We are like the little engine that could always try to get to the top.
Why does it feel so good to have people recognize our accomplishments and success in the eyes of men? The accolade “Job well done” and the acronym GOAT (greatest of all times) are the mountaintop traps into pride and arrogance. Should the average man be thankful for our mediocre skills and abilities? We are blessed to be lost in the crowd and struggling underdogs.
I am not a writer, my spelling sucks, I have a farmers vocabulary, and I rely on a software program to assure my grammar is acceptable—yet I write daily and publish the work to the world of critics in the hope that the words God gives me encourage others to appreciate being average. My photography is far from award-winning, yet I go out daily to see and capture God’s Creation to share and remind people to stop and be grateful to the Creator.
In closing, be thankful you are not famous or powerfully influential. Be humble and work diligently to the best of your ability and with all your heart as if it is a gift to the Lord— In Colossians 3:23— Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Always be thankful
Nicely written. Thank God he made us “ordinary” people. The masses of ordinary can do great things for God as we witness every day about his love and blessings as we travel through this earthly life.
Sharon, as always thank you for your faith, belief, and comments. He has Risen!!!
Reading this post reminded me that I, like many, was highly trained but poorly educated. That point is covered in Gordon Clark’s book titled Chrisian Philosophy of Education.
From Page 139 or so…”But a lawyer who knew only cases in the Arizona courts and had little grasp of the principles of jurisprudence, or a physician who could only prescribe for measles and not for mumps, men who knew nothing of Greek philosophy, European history, and English literature could not properly be called educated.”
“Technical schools are to be encouraged—the finer they are the better; but let not the common confusion remain that technical training and education are the same. Education, properly understood, does not prepare a youth for this or that specific type of life ; education is not for the purpose of producing chemists, brokers, or engineers; it is for the purpose of producing men. It does not prepare for any one type of business in particular, but for any and all kinds in general. Its lessons are applicable to all life, not to just some life,”
“The mere inclusion of a little vocational training in the high schools, while it is a start in the wrong direction, is not of itself the worst of the evil. The greater disadvantages comes from the crowding out of other subjects.”
“The object of education is truth: the transmission of truth to the younger pupils and the discovery of new truth by more advanced students. The aim of education is an understanding of the universe.”
“A narrow technical training provides no safeguard against being deceived. Only a liberal arts education that uncovers three thousand years of human motives, foibles, reflections, and devices offers hope. Only a knowledge of how one science or one part of a science is related to all other knowledge can give one the needed perspective on life. Chemistry is undoubtedly important and worthwhile, but only if it is integrated with morality.”
The whole book is evidence that there is a Christian way to look at education.
Jim, I love your quote, ” highly trained but poorly educated.” I picture the Pharisees filled with intellectual arrogance and completely lacking sense. Schools have gone astray as I meet young men and women they are lost in the deception of the school grooming them, never preparing them for life, life to the full in Yeshua.
Thanks for these thoughts