"'Good enough' is a divine concept." My former supervisor at Advocate BroMenn, Bill, left this comment on a facebook status update of a former chaplain colleague. I had heard other former colleagues say this phrase before about being a "good enough" chaplain and I was always intrigued by the idea.
I'm not sure how "good enough" translates into other types of work. I would venture to say that being "good enough" is looked down upon in every other profession. We always have to be above and beyond the norm or the expected. I cannot be "good enough" in my interview. I cannot be just "good enough" at my job. I have to outshine all the others... at least for now.
I think we are all raised to think that "good enough" is not good enough. That makes no sense, but at the same time, it does. "Good enough" is not actually enough unless it is better than others. I guess in chaplain-world, there is no comparing yourself to other chaplains. You are who you are and your chaplain-ness is determined by your "self." My academic advisor-ness is, of course, also defined by my "self," but I feel I could probably be a better advisor than others, or, even more importantly, the best advisor I can be, which is clearly better than "good enough." So will there ever be a "good enough" for me? Would I even be okay with "good enough" if it were an option for me?
I would love to have to have a conversation about how "good enough" is a divine concept. I suppose it probably goes back to how God loves us and that no matter who we are or what we've done, we are good enough for God's love.
Anyway... I've just been thinking about that all day and how I wish that "good enough" was actually enough.
I'm not sure how "good enough" translates into other types of work. I would venture to say that being "good enough" is looked down upon in every other profession. We always have to be above and beyond the norm or the expected. I cannot be "good enough" in my interview. I cannot be just "good enough" at my job. I have to outshine all the others... at least for now.
I think we are all raised to think that "good enough" is not good enough. That makes no sense, but at the same time, it does. "Good enough" is not actually enough unless it is better than others. I guess in chaplain-world, there is no comparing yourself to other chaplains. You are who you are and your chaplain-ness is determined by your "self." My academic advisor-ness is, of course, also defined by my "self," but I feel I could probably be a better advisor than others, or, even more importantly, the best advisor I can be, which is clearly better than "good enough." So will there ever be a "good enough" for me? Would I even be okay with "good enough" if it were an option for me?
I would love to have to have a conversation about how "good enough" is a divine concept. I suppose it probably goes back to how God loves us and that no matter who we are or what we've done, we are good enough for God's love.
Anyway... I've just been thinking about that all day and how I wish that "good enough" was actually enough.
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