I have long struggled with contentment. When we lived in a townhouse, I was discontent that we didn’t have a yard, now I’m discontent that I have to work in my yard. Before we had kids, I wasn’t content because I really wanted a baby, now I’m not content because I never seem to get a break from the kids (not always true, but I tend to bend the truth when I’m in a crabby mood).

Melana’s post a few days ago regarding television has made me think. Not that I’m not already utterly sinful, but television and other media tend to add to the human propensity to discontentment. So much of the media portrays “normal” people doing heroic and extraordinary things. Heroes is all about normal people discovering their extraordinary abilities, American Idol gives normal people the chance to be extraordinary. A long list of game shows give people the opportunity to win a million dollars and break out of their normal, ordinary lives and do something amazing. Looking at the TV Guide, it appears that everyone is extraordinary, or should be. For me this only feeds my feeling of discontentment. It appears that everyone else is out there making history, making money, or discovering superpowers. I can’t regenerate like Claire on Heroes (and I don’t look like her either!), so what’s special about me?

Jesus was extraordinary, but he only spent about the last three years of his life showing it. The only person who actually could have done anything, spent most of his life looking like all the rest of us. How humble! It makes me wonder what’s so bad about being ordinary. Serving Jesus, your family, and your community probably won’t get you a TV show, but it will make you like Jesus and that’s not a bad thing. I should be content in where I am and who I am, because hopefully I’m becoming who Jesus wants me to be.

By Addie Gerlach