Blog 381 – 08.21.2016

Everyone wants to be special. Do you know why? I think the reason is because we have listened to voices outside ourself all our lives sayings things like, “You’re not smart enough, pretty or handsome enough, let’s just face it you just don’t have what it takes to be a doctor, lawyer, Indian chief etc.” Sadly we bought it to that bull corn. And you know what I really want to call it. And so we spend our lives trying to prove to ourself and to others that we are special. But we are not for we are way better than special. We are magnificent.

Special is a term we use for people who for what ever reason someone does not think they are quite good enough. Like children with learning difficulties we put them in Special Education classes. I had a hard time learning to read. I started first grade at five with no kindergarten and even in third grade I still had trouble with Mac and Muff. Turns out my problem was over crowded class rooms and teaching not reading difficulties. When I finally got a teacher who realized that I needed individual attention and help from the better readers in my class I started reading better.
A friend commented on one of my blogs that she was intimidated by my writing ability. Wow, but I have no illusions, I read over these pieces many times because I want them to be good enough so people will want to read them and recommend my blog to their friends. But even after I think I have it nailed and push the publish button most of the time I find at least one mistake or think of something I could have said better.

I am not perfect. I no longer even want to be. All I strive for is continuous improvement. But I have learned a great secret. I do not need to be special, first place, better than anyone else for I am magnificent already and so are you. Just as you are. Don’t feel magnificent? Try this if you’d like to feel divine, forgive someone, forgive yourself.

Shakespeare said, “To err is human to forgive divine.” We are each of us like Christ, God and man. Forgive or better yet overlook your own faults and the faults of others and learn to see how magnificent you and they truly are.

If you think the Bible a better quote than Shakespeare here’s one for you from the Apostle Paul, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency might be of God.” Someone who studied Greek, I did not, said the words refer to the clay lamps or lanterns that were used at the time the words were written. Cracks, holes, and even imperfections in the clay allowed the light within to shine out. So it is with us, not being perfect far from taking away actually adds to our magnificence.

In Don Crane’s art class over fifty years ago I learned that the Japanese great artists used to put an intentional flaw in their work to show that they did not believe perfection was achievable. I sure wish I’d learned that lesson then and not spent most of the last fifty years trying to be Special or Perfect. It is a lot more fun just being Magnificent Me and enjoying Magnificent You.

Let yourself and everyone else off the hook. Just shine, Sunshine, it is what you were made for. Let me know what you think. Am I right or just full of, what was it, yeah, bull corn?

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White