MARGINAL

Almost doesn't seem to satisfy most of us. We enjoy winning and aren't to happy about losing.

Being in between really doesn't exactly inspire either. It might not sound as bad as losing, but it doesn't make us smile like winning either.

There are times though when marginal truly does define reality. We end up in the wasteland of dreams. Neither good, nor bad, just in between.

Unless you are content with being bland. Then it works. But most people I know are never content with admitting they are bland.

I've known plenty of people who were bland, but always had to colorize the truth so it looked more attractive. It never actually changed the truth, but made them feel it did.

It's sort of like being average. Does anyone actually enjoy being average? I don't think so.

Which appeals to the need to be other than average. Unfortunately, we all have some aspect to our nature that is ordinary.

And we are all less that perfect so it means we are going to have some aspect that is not excellent either. Which can translate into marginal.

God doesn't hold it against us if we aren't talented in a way that we aren't blessed to be part of our life. He never punishes us for that aspect of life.

What he does do is grant us grace. That unconditional love that accepts us as we are, including when we are marginal.

Lately, I've been caught up with my writing and competing in these writing contests. Sometimes I do well, others not.

And I often get upset when I don't do well. Then God makes me remember, if I poured all my energy into a piece and it didn't do well, it was marginal, but the best I could do.

Which is truly what matters the most. Faithful and victory are not always the same. It is being obedient to your calling regardless of results.

Some never appreciate this and never will. They will chase the rainbows of excuses even if they never truly achieve in the process.

Which will never bring peace as much as the truth. It is the game we play with our mind and that never is one we win. Just end up finding another reason to avoid being acceptance of our reality.