"Well, sir," said the Cabby very slowly, "a chap don't exactly know till he's been tried. I dare say I might turn out ever such a soft 'un. Never did no fighting except with my fists. I'd try -that is, I 'ope I'd try - to do my bit."
Mediocre - adj.
of only average quality; not very good.
Thus, by definition, most people are mediocre. Me too. "He's putting himself down again", I hear you say or, "talking about himself again"... Well, it is
my blog and you do not have to read it. Anyway I am just saying what's true. I might be a jack of all trades but I am master of none. I think my dad was much the same so maybe he's to blame.
I love (some) music but my understanding, repertoire and ability is very limited.
I love good food and even once cooked a meal in a startup restaurant. But maybe because I don't like stuff one is meant to like (under-cooked cow, sea-bugs, broccoli, olives...) I could never become a chef.
I love making or mending things but I don't have the patience to become a craftsman.
I enjoy running and the solitude and time with God it affords, this being the only "sport" I have ever found remotely enjoyable let alone been able to do. But even at school I clocked in only average in the annual cross country race, and nowadays youngsters whiz past me on foot or bike.
True, I excelled in Physics and Maths
at school, left
Oxford with honours and a got prestigious engineering job but even there my abilities were eclipsed by that of some of peers.
Since then I've earnt a living doing contract design work but I'm not rich yet. And I thought I was good at programming until I read about
SOLID.
I thank God for my four wonderful children and what they have achieved, each experts in their field, but, although I meant well, I cannot take credit and sometimes I cringe when I look back.
I get involved in our local church out of what I hope is a right desire but only God knows how effective this is for I don't see much evidence.
Not that I'm complaining, being happy enough to let the world go by. Maybe if I had persevered at music, or tackled post graduate work at Oxford, or not resigned from the BBC, or had a few more children to practice parenthood on, or gone to seminary to become a preacher...
I wonder - is it OK to be only of average quality and not very good at anything at all?
American football coach George Allen noted that "
most men succeed because they are determined to". Sure - I'm not giving up yet!
Something inside reminds me that "
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."
