"IF IT'S WORTH DOING..."

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might..."

(Ecc. 9:10)

We all, I think, understand the little quip, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well.” Though I do not think many would grasp G.K. Chesterton’s witticism, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” To smile and dismiss this witty saying as just that, witty, is like throwing the oyster away with a pearl of great price within it.

Now I readily agree with the first quip, if speaking of professionalism, such as things like doctoring or piloting. But if speaking of amateurism, as in the second statement, like mothering and rearing children, I agree with Chesterton. Someone has said, “An amateur is someone who does something out of love, not for money.”

Many believe because they cannot do a thing well they should leave it to the professionals, thinking they can do better. But the world is made up of the common, not the elite. For example, a few professional workers in a daycare center can never raise children like everyday common mothers can.

Chesterton's saying is not an excuse for poor effort. It’s simply saying if a thing is worthy, give it a good try, even if you feel you’ll do badly. The emphasis being on the “thing,” not you. As the saying goes, “I’d rather try something a hundred times and fail ninety-nine,  succeeding once, than to have never tried at all."

O, beloved saint, some things in life are worthy of our attempt, even if it ends in a bad result for us. Living for God is worthy, even if we fail in our effort! After all, isn’t being a bad Christian better than being no Christian at all?

"GOD IS A GREAT TOUCH-UP ARTIST."

(rds)