Kate and Jessica remind us that we all live inside an "economy of desire" (p 63). We all (think we) want "Big Moments" (p 62) that will provide enough mountaintop experiences to last a lifetime.
But here's the thing: if we only define our lives by "big moments," we'll constantly be left wanting more and working harder to make more moments and being even more disappointed when the big moments don't pan out.
It can quickly turn into a mindset of scarcity.
Fill in your own desire blank:
I'll never be _____________ enough.
Never good enough.
Never perfect enough.
Never thin enough.
Never powerful enough.
Never successful enough.
Never smart enough, certain enough, safe enough.
It's so simple to look at the people around you (in-person or through a screen), and lament all the places where you think you'll never be "________ enough."
Perhaps in today's devotional we have reached the heart of what Kate and Jessica's book Good Enough is all about: leaving behind the pursuit of perfection and instead, seeking CONTENTMENT.
They write, "Desire can feel like an endless hunger, but there is a feeling we get when we feel full: contentment" (p 62).
I suppose this ties in a bit with the reflection on "Mourning a Future Self" we talked about last week, but for today I want to think about what it means to be full.
And satisfied. And to feel like the life I'm living is enough.
It's definitely not the life I thought I'd be living (as I mentioned here), but I'm learning to pay closer attention to the "big moments" that happen in the quiet moments of my life.
Like last night's impromptu dinner out with friends: by the time we were finished, my belly was full and my heart was content. There was nothing too remarkable about the gathering, and yet because of the people who gathered around that table and how much they mean to me, it felt incredibly remarkable. Unforgettable even.
Yet it's something that's likely to happen again the next time someone messages the group to say they don't want to cook and does anyone else want to get something to eat?
And I know that when I reheat yesterday's dinner leftovers for today's lunch, I will remember that feeling of being satisfied and content.
Blessed are you, they write, amid the ordinary details that define what life is for you, right now. And as you see them, greet them - each one - as you smile and call them by name. Everyday joys. Small pleasures. Birds chirping. Cat cuddles. A cold glass of water. A little child calling your name. The breeze on your cheeks. The ocean rhythm. The perfect pillow. The kindness of a friend. Loves that are and were and ever will be" (p 65, "A Blessing for the Life You Have").
Pastor Allison
I'm curious:
How would you fill in the "never ____________ enough" blank? Do Kate and Jessica say anything in this chapter that speaks to that desire? Can you imagine what contentment might feel like if you managed to let go of that standard or expectation you may never live up to? Why do you think you're still holding on to it?
In the "A Good Enough Step," they write, "Whisper a prayer of gratitude for the best of life right now." What's the best of life right now for you?
On page 67, they quote Thomas Merton saying, "Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God." How much does gratitude play into contentment? Could focusing on gratitude be the first step for you to getting over the "never __________ enough" stumbling block?
