The other day, my son was playing with the simplistic bow and arrow that I made him this spring. The simple design of a single stick and piece of twine led to hours of entertainment and imagination.
After an evening of fierce battle, he and I (somehow) began talking about Native Americans and their use of the bow and arrow as a weapon. I told him that the Native Americans were able to kill a buffalo with a bow that they made by hand. He promply asked, "How in the world did they do that?"
Exactly. How were they able to take sticks, string and rocks and make a bow and arrow capable of killing a 1,500 pound animal? Because they had to. Their lives depended on it. They were required by their situation to be innovative.
What are we capable of if we're pushed to our limits... or if we choose to push ourselves to those limits? Could we cure the global water problem or stop human trafficking? Maybe.
I often think that I'm just mediocre at this whole life thing. And maybe I am. But, if I am, it's because I'm choosing to be. I'm not pushing myself to be innovative, to force change, to think differently and to make a difference. I'm choosing to be mediocre.
We shouldn't settle for mediocre. We should push ourselves and the people we truly care about to be the best. Not just for us, but for everyone around us.
We only get one chance at this life thing, so don't wait for the buffalo to walk up to you and fall over. Force change. Take what you've got and make your bow and arrow.