Good Dads
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Podcast
  • Insights
  • New Pathways
    • What is New Pathways?
    • NPGD Class Schedules & Locations
    • NPGD Council & Partners
    • NPGD Facilitators
    • NPGD Activities
    • NPGD Completions & Graduations
    • What NPGD Dads Are Saying
  • All Pro Dad
    • All Pro Dad Schools in Springfield, MO
    • APD CAPTAINS
  • Partners
  • Membership

Good dad insights

The Courage to be Ordinary

4/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photo by Lucas Lenzi
Ordinary – that’s the title of a book by Michael Horton about “sustainable faith in a radical, restless world.” Horton speaks primarily of spiritual matters, but I think what he says applies to so much of our everyday lives—work, leisure, relationships.  After all, who wants to work at an ordinary job, go on an ordinary vacation, or have an ordinary relationship?

Today words like “ultimate,” “extreme” and “awesome” are in vogue. In the workplace or business world we often hear that companies or organizations are “emergent,” “impactful” and “innovative.” Let’s face it, if you’re not “cutting edge,” you are nowhere on the power grid.  It got me thinking about how much many of us, me included, may be influenced by this not-so-subtle message of our culture. According to Horton, “ordinary” is “one of the loneliest words in our vocabulary today,” and he notes that no one wants a bumper sticker announcing to the neighborhood, “My child is an ordinary student at Bubbling Brook Elementary.”

Just to be clear, Horton is not talking about settling for mediocrity or just getting by. Rather, he is suggesting the never ending calls to greatness, e.g., “Be all that you be” and “Never settle” are exhausting on multiple levels. In the words of Tish Harrison Warren, many of us have never learned “how to be an average person living an average life in a beautiful way.”  We are continually pushed and prodded to believe there is something more we could attain or be, if only we pursued our dreams with more vigor.

Here’s the thing that concerns me . . . and Horton. We can make heroic efforts to do some great thing in our community or around the globe, but fail to be a decent human being to our neighbor. We may be innovative and impactful at work, but fail to demonstrate that same kind of energy on a day-to-day basis with our families. We make sure our children have awesome, memorable vacations, but fail to help them consistently demonstrate good manners or be content with what they have.
Picture
Photo by Jana Sabeth Schultz
Much has been said about “the greatest generation,” also known as the “silent generation.” What occurs to me now is that their greatness seems highly correlated with their willingness to be “ordinary,” i.e., to show up, day after day, doing their work with persistence and dedication. Perfect? No, but their faithfulness to the everydayness of life over a lifetime created some extraordinary legacies marked by courage and sacrifice.
Picture
Photo by Scott Umstattdt
​As we begin a new season, I’m wondering if it might be good to consider more ways to be ordinary, draw less attention to ourselves, resolve to pay attention to people who don’t really benefit us in any way. Perhaps we could get to know our neighbors. Maybe we could resolve to be on time—early even—just so we could make space in our schedule to welcome others. Possibly we could worry less about what will make us happy and put more energy into how to make the world a better place for those within our circle of influence every day – small children, cashiers, service workers, those we supervise or report to. Small kindnesses, caring words and everyday courtesies don’t seem like much in the face of world hunger. That’s why it takes courage to pursue them on a daily basis. As the saying goes, “Everyone wants a revolution. No one wants to do the dishes.”
  
Becoming more content with being ordinary may be just what is required for a happy, healthy life, rich in community. 

Dr. Jennifer Baker

Dr. Jennifer Baker is the Founder and Executive Director of GOOD DADS. She can be reached at jennifer@gooddads.com. 

0 Comments


Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Advice
    Advocacy
    Back To School
    Christmas
    College
    Communication
    Community
    Cooking
    Co-Parenting
    Dad 2 Dad Networking
    Daughter
    Driving
    Faith
    Fall
    Family Time
    Fatherhood
    Firsts
    FOMO
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Friends
    Funny
    Generosity
    Giving Back
    Good Dads
    Grandparents
    Grief
    Grudges
    Habits
    Health
    Homework
    Learning
    Limits
    Love
    Manners
    Marriage
    Math
    Mental Health
    Mistakes
    Money
    Mothers
    Moving
    Parenting
    Play
    Quitting
    Reading
    Relationships
    Role Model
    School
    Self Care
    Social Media
    Sports
    Statistics
    Staying Connected
    Story
    Success
    Summer
    Technology
    Teenager
    Toddler
    Tough Topics
    Traditions
    Transitions
    Travel
    Twins
    Video Games
    Women
    Work

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014

Picture
​​205 West Walnut Street, ​Suite 10
Springfield, MO  65806

​
Phone:  417.501.8867

Hours
​Monday - Thursday:
 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Friday:
 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
​
Saturday - Sunday: 
​Closed

© Good Dads, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Podcast
  • Insights
  • New Pathways
    • What is New Pathways?
    • NPGD Class Schedules & Locations
    • NPGD Council & Partners
    • NPGD Facilitators
    • NPGD Activities
    • NPGD Completions & Graduations
    • What NPGD Dads Are Saying
  • All Pro Dad
    • All Pro Dad Schools in Springfield, MO
    • APD CAPTAINS
  • Partners
  • Membership