Oscar Wilde once wrote, “To be popular one must be a mediocrity.” The first time I ever thought about this word “mediocrity” was in high school. My band teacher spoke of it often, or rather against it. He was a strict teacher who always demanded excellence from his students. He often said, “I am not here to teach band but to teach life skills” and one of the ways in which he did so was to deride the hideousness of mediocrity. He pushed us to be our very best, through discipline and sacrifice, and as a result, we were one of the best high school bands in the entire country, often considered on par with university bands.
So, I have thought on this quote often because there is an enormous amount of truth behind it. Popularity is quite easy to attain, you simply say what people want to hear and become what people want you to be. Don’t be too strange, but don’t be too remarkable. Sufficiently impressive will do, but never strive for true greatness. Make people feel good about themselves, promote vague ideas that sound inspirational but don’t challenge their thinking. Make people feel they have already arrived and keep them comfortable with where they are at (ie no guilt or pressure). Be nice to look at and pleasant to be around at all times.
Pleasantness has its virtue, I suppose, but it doesn’t change the world. That requires real courage, a rare quality few possess. So, what is courage then? I don’t think it can be defined as sitting behind a computer screen blasting an intangible political foe to all your like-minded friends and family. That’s about as daring as a Hollywood actor spouting off their liberal principles at an Oscar’s Ceremony. But the kind of courage I’m referring to is scary. The Cambridge dictionary defines courage as “the ability to control fear and to be willing to deal with something that is dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant.” Courage requires putting yourself on the line because you can’t have courage without sacrifice, so it’s guaranteed to be uncomfortable.
And courage comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s a willingness to stand up for your convictions even when there is threat of loss, such as position or connections. It could mean taking serious risks to pursue a dream. Other times it’s the willingness to be vulnerable emotionally, something most avoid at all costs for fear of repeating past hurts and disappointments. Even stepping out to show true kindness can be courageous. Oh, anybody can be “kind” to their family and friends, after all, it does come with its own reward of scoring points socially, along with a pat on the back from observers. But when it comes to being kind to those who can do absolutely nothing for you, socially or otherwise, how much more difficult it is to give of our precious time and resources.
True courage requires casting aside all thoughts of your own wellbeing for the sake of the cause — whatever your cause may be — and it isn’t natural. No one likes to be rejected, persecuted, or vulnerable. We like our comforts and are easily motivated by pride and self-preservation. To risk losing the things you’ve worked for, to sacrifice your reputation as a “nice person”, or give without any expectation of receiving, that’s scary stuff. But neither will you ever be accused of settling for a life of mediocrity. Christ did it…He gave it all. He went to the cross even though he sweat droplets of blood. He allowed himself to be scourged and utterly humiliated by His own creation, but it was worth the cost and yes, it changed the course of history. And He also demonstrated that being courageous sometimes means being willing to stand alone. But here’s some good news, for those in Christ, you never will.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)
Jakki Jelene is a lover of literature and the sea. Whether cozying up with a classic novel or a book of poetry, immersive storytelling has inspired her to express her thoughts in writing for most of her life. Jakki currently resides in beautiful West Michigan with her husband and furry companions.
