I am an avid reader and I’m not as disciplined in what I read as I might need to be. If I were more disciplined, I might learn more about something and learning more about something can enhance intellectual growth.
Even so, I have learned a lot about some-things simply by reading in my undisciplined way. I don’t know where I read it, but this week, I was gripped by this word from G.K. Chesterton, “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” You need to stop reading for a moment and reflect on that.
Chesterton was an English writer, philosopher, and one of my favorite lay theologian. A Christmas season never goes by without my quoting and reflecting on his poem, The House of Christmas. He has been referred to as the “prince of paradox.”
I couldn’t go on. His paradoxical way of stating a great truth had me in its grip, and I remembered something I had read somewhere. In 1986, Bob Brentley, catcher for the San Francisco Giants, set a major league record…four errors in one game. In that same game, he came to bat in the last inning. The count was three balls and two strikes.
Could it have been worse? He had set a world record for errors! It happened. He hit a home run and won the game for San Francisco, seven to six.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” You go with it as your mind takes you. But it has taken me to grace, a paramount dimension of the Christian faith. Grace means we always have another chance.