I Am (Not) Good Enough

Currently, one of my favorite preachers, Jon, spoke to us last Sunday on the concept of being "Good Enough."  Jon, who recently received his PhD, told about a time, somewhere along in his studies, that he was displeased that he got a B in one of his classes.  When he let his professor know how distraught he was and requested another go at the grade the professor e-mailed Jon a reply saying that a B is good.  And Jesus taught us that good is good.  Jesus said, I am the Good Shepard.

This reminded me of the times I used to beat myself up about not being good enough.  But, because I still think of David every single day, I want to share this story about him and his Aunt Lora.

David was born in Maylasia where his parents were Methodist missionaries, but at an early age he was shipped off  to live with his Aunt Lora who was an "Old Maid School Teacher" in Independence Kansas.  You can imagine how six year old David's british accent went over in Independence Kansas.

This was back in the late 1930's so the title "Old Maid School Teacher" was common.  Most teachers at that time were not allowed to marry.  And, not only that, their salaries barely allowed them to support themselves.  Lora cared for her mother who was a widow of a Methodist minister.  They, as well, had no retirement or backup plan.  Lora also, from time to time, had a boarder or two, usually Old Maid School Teachers, like herself.  But Lora taught high school and junior college English for decades and helped shape the lives of countless students.

However she didn't have the "mom gene" and was definitely not a warm and fuzzy person.

Despite all of this David described his life in Independence as being ideal.  He made two best friends early on and these men stayed friends for six decades.  All three of them were tall and skinny.  They lived to play basketball and golf and were known all over town as The Long Boys.

When they got to junior high all three of them went out for the basketball team.  The day the list came out of the guys who made it everybody was crowded around to see the Long Boys names.

But only two of them made the list.  David did not.  He was devastated.  Naturally, when he went home Aunt Lora had little or nothing to say.  So he suffered in silence.  A few days later he was shocked to find, in Aunt Lora's driveway, a professional basketball backboard and hoop, along with a new ball.  Aunt Lora simply said, "I expect you to practice every day until the next tryout."

David went on to play basketball (and golf) in high school collage and for his entire stint in the Army.

I guess the point of this story to me was that David was good enough.  And you know what?  So was Aunt Lora.


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