Case of Da Mopes

When I was little my dad would hold my sisters and I in his lap and read to us from the big book of Brer Rabbit. If you've never read about this rabbit and his adventure with "da tar baby" then you have had a deprived childhood and life. But one of my favorite stories was of Brer Rabbit's encounter with "da witch doctor." Poor Brer had a bad case of "da mopes and went ter de doctor ta see if she could hep"......today, I feel like Brer Rabbit.

I have da mopes. Da tennis mopes to be exact. I've lost the joy of taking my racket and hitting a ball...mainly because I never actually make contact with the ball. Or if I actually DO hit it, it goes over into another court......it's not pretty. My professor tells me to get in the ready position, and then laughs! I make a hit and my doubles partner shouts, HEY! You made a hit! You're getting there! The common saying on the team tends to be: "you're making contact. That's improvement!" My classmates think it's funny, though. Dad says not everyone can be athletic, but some have to be comic relief. Honestly? I'm SO over being comic relief. I want to be competitive....and talented.

After tennis class I went to chapel. I can't remember anything that was said. My brain was elsewhere...aka I was reading my Bible and praising God for his mercy and call to repentance. It was much more interesting than chapel. Trust me.

Then off to literature. I mean, I'm an English major, right?! I should be able to breeze through this and be competitive here, right?! Wrong. Turns out Huck Finn is WAY more infused with themes than I ever dreamed. My teacher was pointing out AMAZING parallels and interesting facts that had completely escaped my attention. Wow. How could I miss so much? Mopes.

THEN I went to Ceramics where my professor asked me if I was a "perfectionist" because I was getting mad at all my failed attempts to create a cylinder on the throwing wheel. I fail. In the end I ruined 6 pots and left frustrated with life.

Is there not anything I can do well?! I fume as I sit here looking at all the laundry that needs folding, the floor that needs vacuuming, the bathroom that needs scrubbing, the ironing that begs me to pay attention, and the checklist of homework I'm to finish before Friday. I wanna do all things well...perfectly...so I am competitive and relevant to those doing it with me. But I'm missing the point.

God has granted me the grace of being competent at a few things, but not everything. I think He does it to keep me humble and keep me trying. He doesn't allow me to be perfect at everything because:
1. were I perfect I would not need HIS strength
2. were I perfect I would be the most prideful woman walking on two legs
3. were I perfect I would not need the body. Ouch. In other words, if I could do all things well as I wish, then I would be legs, arms, hands, feet, eyes.......etc. of this Christian body. I would have no need for others. *sigh*
In other words: I need YOU.

So while I'm moping around wishing, I hope that you'll continue to come alongside me and fill in my gaps. You be the athletic one who can plan church volleyball games. YOU can be the one that is the evangelist and the brave one being the outgoing reacher of souls. You fill in my gaps, and I'll bring cookies.....and blog about it.

Talents used.

Off to see the Wise Doctor for da case of de mopes...
Sarah