THE FECUNDITY OF MEDIOCRITY
Aside from the immobilizing power of fear and it's preponderance, why do you suppose there is so little brilliance in the world? So little unique and so much "cookie-cutter"? Since we are all truly one of a kind; why does that not manifest itself more frequently? I purport: The absence of wisdom. A short but telling tale should suffice.
Once, and many times since, upon a time there three princesses: Princess Mycelpha, Princess Lettami, and Priocess Soffia. All the princesses were full of ideas, and each possessed a surety that their ideas were the best. Princess Soffia to her credit recognized other ways would work, but her sisters had not evolved to that ecclesiastical echelon. Implementing their ideas is where the problems began. When something came up and a decision was to be made, each wanted her way to win out.
One day as the festival of the New Year was approaching, the princesses were in charge of decorating The Grand Foyer for the up and coming ball. Princess Lettami, the youngest and sad to say the most spoiled, had gotten an early start on the decorating. She had a vision as to how the garland should flow and had spent quite a lot of time setting about achieving the "Royal Look" she desired. She was a little concerned that Princess Mycelpha and Princess Soffia had not shown up yet and there was still much to do.
Soon, gratefully they arrived; all happy to be together and excited about the final outcome of their hard work and glorious finish.
Not more than a few minutes had elapsed before the first signs of struggle began. Personality Power Struggle, that is! Princess Mycelpha took one look at what Princess Leltami had thoughtfully and painstakingly accomplished and right away began editing her travail.
"Oh Lettami," spoke the middle princess. "That garland would look so much better over there. And the lights are much too heavily placed in the center. Spread them out a little!"
Princess Lettami boomeranged back, "I think I have it pretty well set up in this area. Why don't you work over there, or perhaps on the flowers. And Soffia, why not make yourself useful of the background decorations?"
Princess Mycelpha persisted, "Really, there are just too many lights in one spot, and we must rearrange the placement of the bushed!"
Princess Lettami getting more insistent following each retort, "Look, we have to have balance. Everything must be symmetrical. I have to have it this way!" Which, of course, meant Princess Mycelpha was not going to get it her way. Which, of course, lead to another round of retorts. While they went on and on volleying suggestions curtly back and forth, Princess Soffia, who was a bit if an iconoclast, was crunching gold material and covering a plain white pedestal with it to give it a more festive yet slightly quirky appeal. To her, as she was quite brilliant in her sense of esthetics, it looked marvelous! But the two princesses were having a tizzy over the somewhat offbeat objet d'art, which their oldest sister had just concocted!
Princess Myceipha spoke first, "Why don't you smooth out the crunched look and let it drop loosely over the pedestal in a more traditional manner?"
Princess Lettami piped in, Oh no, that won't do at all!" And in one swell swoop banished the whole decorating project Soffia had been working on. Princess Soffia was a bit disappointed. She thought a slightly strange but new approach would make something unique out of the prosaic. But for peace she acquiesced to her strong willed sisters demand for compliance to their wishes. So an idea which might have had a dazzling effect for all the kingdom to see and enjoy was left on the cutting room floor.
Princess Soffia really had more experience and talent in this area than either of her sisters, but felt that yielding was the wisest course to peace. And wisdom is first of all peaceable.
So Soffia choose the innocuous job of threading popcorn, so Lettami could, when she had finished, tell her exactly where and how to hang it. As Princess Soffla sat there needling the popcorn piece by piece, hour by hour, she watched Princess Lettami and Mycelpha haggle on into the night. Each fighting to make sure her viewpoint won out. Every so often Princess Mycelpha would win a battle, such as the flower arrangements, which was a good thing since she had been in charge of the royal gardens for several years, and really new better than Princess Lettami, how to pull off a smart design. Of course, Princess Lettami thought she could do just as good, but because of time and Princess Mycelpha's strong willful self, she was obliged to give in now and then.
So near the stroke of midnight the decorating was complete. Because Princess Lettami was the least competent but strongest (in a stubborn not goodly way), her style was what reigned supreme! It was nice, decent., acceptable, fairly pretty. But no snap, crackle, pop! No charisma. More drizzle than dazzle. There were a few nice touches where Princess Mycelpha had bulldozed ahead with her own insistence. But it looked usual, as usual. Yea, after year the predominating feature was bland, accepted mediocrity. The Kingdom would be denied the beauty and benefit of Soffia's glowing touches and contributions. It looked, shall I say, sweet & low. Sweet (overall) and Low (in quality of design).
So for those of you who didn't eat your banana today, so that your synapses make menial acuity a reality, I'll spoon feed you. Here's the revelatory translation: There are three types of people. Yes, only three! The first two arc definitely stereo-types; for the resounding of their boisterous demanding voices are as surrounding as any Am/Fm receiver ever made!
Firstly, let's establish the issue of equality or lack there of. God is fair. Life ain't. Accept it, get used to it, make the best with the hand you have been dealt. We all are born with some handicaps and some gifts. Overcome the later; rejoice in the former, and use both to glorify God. God is an equal opportunity employer and adopter. All have equal footing at Calvary, but we are all born with different amounts and kinds of gifts. And some got more, baby! There will always be people who have more of what you got. You can use your gift, and let them use theirs without being jealous or trying to squelch theirs out with small minded power plays. Which leads us to our first stereo-type: Your Average Joe (Y.A.J). Now don't take offense. I'm probably not speaking to you. Y.a.j.'s are most likely not a bit interested in this book. They are no doubt watching Ricky, Jerry, Sally, or Ophrah. Being born average (intelligence, looks, etc..) does not have to limit your ability to reach your potential and be the best God would have you be. Take a look at Helene Keller or such like wonder!
You can be average yet unique. One of God's average creations is still quite a marvel! But Joe, you are average. Average in itself is not bad, but average mingled with pride, ego, and selfwilledness is the main reason the above average seldom get to shine through.
Stereo-type two: Above average and full of yourself.
Stereo-type three: Above average and full of Him.
What happened in the story is I believe a microcosm of what takes place on said planet. Simply put: majority rules. Mediocrity (Y.A.J.) being the majority. Not that that is how it should be, but it fulfills my adage: "Give a little person a little power, and they will show how truly little they are.'
The average person is strong willed, and that includes the seemingly passive, We humans devise and implement many ways to get our way. All three types know how to get their way, but only the first two use and abuse this power. The third type has wisdom and is willing to lay down that power. Though they would like to shine (for His glory and theirs) and have the insight and ability to create a masterpiece, they choose to give tip their designs to gain the greater good: Peace. This is no small feat! Their rare gifts are seldom displayed to benefit the world because of it. Wars are fought on family and world wide scales because of the first two types. Usually the Lettami type wins out. We do see some brilliance because the Mycelpha group is equally self-willed and can occasionally push through and land on top( the Michael Jacksons or Donald Trumps of the world). The Soffia group, gifted and yielded to Him, who could offer so much to ameliorate the world's banality, goes mainly unnoticed, unappreciated, and saddest of all unutilized. There are a handful that through chance or grace (I don't have the ratios on that one) are allowed to shine and benefit all mankind (Mother Teresa and Scott Peck come to mind). Y.A.J.'s truly don't know what they are missing. And don't care. It's more important to get their way......................Pity |
