The passion for excellence

WE need to be concerned about this matter. If we really

want to be truly human and Christian, we need to develop a passion for

excellence in everything that we do or get involved in.

  

            It, of course, should not be motivated by pride or vanity,

greed, envy and things like them. Rather, it is to give glory to God,

to effectively contribute to the common good, and to make full use of

the many blessings God has given us and thus attain the perfection

meant for us.

  

            In the gospel, there are many references about this need.

Christ himself leads the way by showing us how excellent all his deeds

were in spite of being hidden. At one point, the people could not help

but say that “he has done all things well.” (Mk 7,37) And when he

preached, the people were very amazed “because he taught as one who

had authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mk 1,22)

  

            We can presume that everything Christ did was done with a

passion for excellence. This can only mean that he worked first of all

to obey the will of the Father, and he did all with whatever technical

perfection can be achieved given a particular circumstance. He knew

how to make do with whatever was available at a given moment. Of

course, being God and not to show off, he performed miracles.

  

            St. Paul also made some exhortation about this passion for

excellence. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but

only one receives the prize?” he asked. “Run in such a way as to take

the prize.” (1 Cor 9,24)

   

            This passion of excellence would also include the urge to

finish what was started, that is, to persevere in doing good till the

end regardless of all the difficulties encountered along the way. It

involves putting the last stone, the last finishing touch in any

endeavor.

  

            Thus, in the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told to “throw

off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And

let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (12,1)

  

            We have to develop the proper attitude and skills to have

this passion for excellence. Everyday, let us motivate ourselves to be

zealous in everything that we do. We have to be driven, hot,

enthusiastic, not complacent and lukewarm. We have to set clear goals,

norms and standards to somehow measure our performance, deadlines to

meet. We have to have some game plan and clear idea of the means we

have to use.

  

            This passion for excellence will surely include a spirit

of initiative, creativity and inventiveness. It should know how to

handle setbacks, failures and disappointments that can come

occasionally. It should know how to be flexible and adaptable without

losing the focus. It should know how to recover from tiredness and

exhaustion.

  

            To sustain this passion for excellence, we need to

continually purify our intentions, availing of all the spiritual and

supernatural means to do so. Let’s remember that in all times we have

to contend with powerful enemies—our own wounded selves, the many

allurements of the world, and the devil himself who will do everything

to bring us down.

  

            This passion for excellence, if grounded and oriented

properly, will always be marked by joy and peace in spite of the

tension that it entails. It does not fall into what is called as

bitter zeal where the details of charity and prudence would be left

behind.

   

            It does not eat up our human warmth. It is very much

compatible with showing affection, and with ‘wasting’ time with

friends. It does not count costs and it enables us to give ourselves

wholeheartedly to God and to everyone else.

  

            A person with passion for excellence is aware that he

freely received much from God. He will also give himself freely to God

and to others.