And Then Some

George Toma has been a groundskeeper in Kansas City for several decades.  Though now retired, he had been the head Groundskeeper for the Kansas City Athletics, then the Royals and the Chiefs.  He was chosen to supervise the grounds crew for every Superbowl, two Olympics and the World Cup.  Permanently upbeat he was quoted as saying that in 70 years of baseball, he had never met a bad player.

George Toma made excellence part of his life by subscribing to the motto, "and then some." His philosophy is to do everything that you need to do ..... and then some.  If you live that way long enough, excellence becomes a habit.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Philippians 4:8

 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, - Collisions 3:23

 There are people and organizations that are consistently excellent.  Think about actors or actresses that you have never seen in a bad film.  Everything they do is excellent.  Some brands we buy consistently because they are always good.  We go to that mechanic, get our hair cut at that place, go to that restaurant.  We know what people and places are committed to excellence.  As Christians, we are called to be one of those people.

Excellence needs to be a habit or it's just luck.  I think about fast food french fries.  Sometimes they are hot fresh and crisp.  Other times they are soggy and limp.  Some people ask specifically for fresh, or for no salt, so that they have to be made fresh.  When you get good ones it's just luck not excellence.

So is our life, our work, our walk, our testimony more like George Toma and his attitude of "and then some" or is it like the french fry guy, "maybe they will be good, but maybe not."  God is calling us to be people of excellence.