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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Eleanor Jeans

Practice makes perfect

Good morning.

Before working in churches, I was professional violinist, working as a teacher in schools and performer in orchestras. It was good fun, but hard work, and always a challenge to get the right work-life balance. And as for any musician, there was a need to do more than simply turn up. I had to practice. I had to learn the music, perfect the technique for tricky passages, allow the basics of scales and arpeggios to be so in my fingers that they came naturally and easily.

The phrase ‘practice makes perfect’ comes to mind. However, let’s face it, that is, most of the time, an unachievable phrase. There is always something we can do to improve and get more perfect. And so I like to think of it as doing my best instead. Giving of my best in whatever I am doing, but being OK with those times when it doesn’t quite go to plan.

I believe that is what God wants of me in all I do. To do my best, to give my all to something. Not because I have to be the best, but because this is my life of worship. My work, my play, my daily activities are all my life of worship. And I have found that, since I have this attitude of worship in everything, even when I pick up my violin, I can remind myself that this is me, giving my all, my best in worship. What might that look like for you today?

Father, help me to give my best today, not because I have to be the best, but because in my life and work I am called to do so.

Amen