No Need for Mirrors

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Embracing Average

October 16, 2014

nnfm-embracing-averageI’ve never been fat. Chubby, yes. Squishy, sure. But according to my doctor, my BMI puts me in the  just-barely-average range. “I would suggest not putting on any more weight,” was her advice to me last time I had a checkup. Words every woman wants to hear: that she’s teetering on the edge of being overweight and one more plate of nachos could send her right over.

I’ve also never been skinny. I’ve never had the pointy edges of my bones show through my clothes, and I’ve definitely never been told that I look like I need to eat something. I’ve always been somewhere in between. Normal. Average.

It’s that way with most things. I’m not a model, but I’ve never been called ugly. I’m not a genius, but I’m smart enough to survive in most bearable conversations. And if I’m not smart enough, I can usually make a joke about it and hope people don’t notice. I’m funny but not funniest-person-you’ve-ever-met funny. You get it.

It’s taken me years to make peace with falling somewhere in the middle. Listen, I’m not typing this in a pool of my own tears. I’m not here to elicit a thread of sympathetic comments about how special I am. I KNOW I’m special. I’m unique and quirky and thoughtful and caring and a list of lots of other things that make me who I am. We all have our own lists, and it’s a beautiful thing that each of us is built so differently. Trust me, every time I meet medical professionals, I tell them I’m thankful there are people in the world who can handle needles on a regular basis without crying. (I mean, needle-induced crying is purely hypothetical, of course.)

I’ve been in a small group with my sisters and some dear friends for a couple months. Just last night we had a conversation about doubts. One of our discussion questions was something like “Are there things in your life that make you doubt God can use you?” I didn’t know quite how to contribute an answer at the time, maybe because I didn’t want to admit I’ve ever struggled with such a thing. Of course I’ve always believed God can use me! I have so much to offer!

But the question has been on my mind for the past 24 hours, and now I know why. I’ve repeatedly let doubts keep me from fully experiencing adventure with God — from being vulnerable and open enough to allow Him to use me to the fullest extent. I’ve spent so much time buying into the idea that I’m an average person that I’ve often disregarded what He’s placed in my heart that makes me extraordinary.

And I don’t want to forget those things ever again. My passions. The loves of my life and bits of my DNA that, quite literally, make my heart beat.

By the world’s standards, I may be just a normal girl. But I think I’m finally at a point in my life where I can break out of that box. After all, God has used average people for incredible purposes throughout all of history! Mary and Joseph were just a normal couple until He got ahold of them. He didn’t choose royalty or the wealthiest or smartest people to raise His son. He chose two people who were faithful to Him and, despite being scared to death, answered “yes.” I have to constantly remind myself of that when I ignore the nudge.

You know the nudge.

It’s that undeniable feeling that God’s calling you to do something. Ok, maybe it’s less of a nudge and more of a push off the ledge, free-falling down to the point of no return. And it’s scary! I’ve ignored it so many times, thinking someone more qualified should do the job. That someone more outgoing would be able to reach more people. I’ve even told myself that someone more spiritual would be better suited for the task at hand.

But I don’t want to ignore the nudge anymore on account of how the world may classify me. I want to embrace “average” for what it is but live beyond it. I want to wake up every morning and ask God to use me DESPITE my doubts. To admit that I’m a normal girl to the world, unique in His eyes, and I’m meant for amazing things.

There’s a continuously unfolding story only I can tell, and maybe it should start something like this:

I’m Tara. I have an average BMI. I earn the median household income. I got average SAT and GRE scores. But I’m the only person like me, and I’ve been called to live an extraordinary life.

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Filed Under: goals & dreams, life lessons 12 Comments

Comments

  1. Future Bro-in-LAW :) says

    October 16, 2014 at 7:44 am

    You should read Chapter 9 in Love Does by Bob Goff if you haven’t already. Encouraging story right along this line. Love you, TaraB!

    Reply
    • tarabender says

      October 16, 2014 at 6:59 pm

      I was about to look it up, but all my books are in boxes in my storage unit. Whommp whommmppp. I’ll take your word for it this time, Perkins. Love you, bro! Miss you!

      Reply
  2. Lydia Fox says

    October 16, 2014 at 11:07 am

    Love this.

    Reply
    • tarabender says

      October 16, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Thanks for reading, Lydia!

      Reply
  3. Jessi says

    October 16, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Forget skinny and average! Come to the gym with me and build muscle. Then you can have a perplexing BMI and when doc informs you that youre teetering on the edge of healthy you flex your quads and ask if the standard BMI chart applies to all bodies. Those charts arent as perfect as you are 😉

    Reply
    • tarabender says

      October 16, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Ha! Thanks, Jessi. Someday I’ll get back into the gym…that’s a whole other blog post. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Aunt Deb says

    October 16, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    Great read

    Reply
    • tarabender says

      October 16, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  5. Beth Mathews says

    October 18, 2014 at 5:02 am

    Let’s talk about how you’re quite possibly one of the most unique persons (people?) I know. You are a gem among pebbles and the neon crayon among the pastels. Love you and your unique and beautiful self to the moon!

    Reply
    • tarabender says

      October 19, 2014 at 1:03 am

      If I’m a neon crayon, you’re a grape scented marker! (Obviously the best kind.) I so admire you, friend.

      Reply
  6. Holly says

    October 30, 2014 at 9:05 am

    It’s funny. I think never (not once) have I ever thought of you as ordinary…or normal 🙂 In my eyes, you’ve always been more along the exceptional and wonderfully different lines than that. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times: If we could only see ourselves through others eyes…

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. I'm not good at anything. - No Need for Mirrors says:
    March 11, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    […] singing, sewing/crafting, friendships. I’ve generally come to terms with the fact that I’m average, and so are most other […]

    Reply

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oh, hello!

I’m Tara. I’m a single 30-something hot mess saved by Grace, figuring out this awkward, beautiful, somewhere-in-between stage of life. My hope is that you will be encouraged by my mishaps and revelations and embrace whatever step of the journey you're in. No filters. No sugar-coating. Just a wholotta realness from my heart to yours.

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