where gifting and skill collide....

What a story book ending... Civilian Captain Richard Phillips is home and being reunited with his family thanks to the sharpshooting skills of our incredible Navy Seals. The precision and accuracy of these sniper shots that brought Captain Phillip's captors down was incredible, yet just another day on the job for our soldiers. I've been thinking how incredible it is when some one's gifting is matched with talent and skill excellence that leads to near perfection, like these sharp shooters. What gifting have I, or any of us, aloud to linger in mediocrity due to laziness or lack of motivation. Imagine doing what you do with precision and consistent accuracy. Whether it is parenting, working, communicating, writing or even living... perhaps more skill assessment and practice is in order for all of us. In other words, our best in most things considered has yet to be realized.
One of my favorite all-time college coaches is John Wooden of UCLA, who made champions of semi-talented teams year after year by teaching them to simply and consistently perform at nothing less than their own personal best. This caused every player to ask, "What is my personal best?" The answer continues to unfold as you never settle for second rate or mediocrity. This challenges me this morning as I consider these Navy Seals and their sharp shooting ability. What do I need to "sharpen," that I've settled for "dull?" My list is in the works, as is my juiced up effort to not settle in any of these areas for less than my own personal best, after all, that's what my Lord gave and definitely deserves from me.