It's Good Enough

When I was a teenager I often got stressed out about my abilities to do certain things. My parents would always say, "Just do your best" to which I would always respond, "Just because it's my best doesn't mean it's good enough." In some respects I still believe that's true. Someone else's best could always be better than our best, therefore making our best not good enough. However...
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I have determined in the last 5 1/2 months of life experience that God is not as uptight as we have sometimes made him out in our minds to be. He doesn't have a checklist or a sticker chart He's expecting us all to fill by the time our lives come to a close. He doesn't have a template that we all have to match in order to be exalted in the next life. He doesn't judge every single one of us by the exact same standards, expecting us all to achieve all the same milestones in life. I believe He will judge us all individually based on the circumstances in our lives and whether or not we did our best.
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On the last Sunday in August Matt didn't go to church. We had a couple of house guests in from LA that weekend who were collaborating with Matt on a film. Sunday morning was the last time the three of them had to powwow before the guys headed back to LA. Instead of going to church that day, they went to the studio. And you better believe I gave Matt some grief about it.
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"So you're just not going to church anymore?" I demanded, probably with my left hand firmly planted on my hip and my right arm extended dramatically. Matt just chuckled. "It's not a big deal. We just had some loose ends to tie up and that was the only time we had to do it. I'm not going to go to hell because of it. In fact, I feel really good about my relationship with the Lord."
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Exactly one week later Matt died.
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I gather a lot of strength and comfort from music of all kinds. One of my favorite songs right now is a Phil Vassar song called Prayer of a Common Man:
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Hallelujah, is anybody up there*Hallelujah, does anybody care*Life takes its toll on the heart and soul*But I'm doing the best I can*But Lord, hear the prayer of a common man*I'm not looking for charity*I just need some clarity*I've got people counting on me*And I'm tired that's all*And I'm up against the wall*Lord hear me when I call*Hallelujah, I know you're up there*Hallelujah, I know you care*Life takes its toll on a heart and soul*But I'm doing the best I can*Oh Lord, hear the prayer of a common man*Lord, hear the prayer of this common man

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In my last post I mentioned the video footage we have to help us remember Matt. Those of you who came to the visitation the day before his funeral know the video I'm talking about. It is 100% pure Matt. It's Matt sitting in front of the camera being real and charming and funny and clever and handsome and full of life. It is the Matt I fell in love with and the Matt I will show people who want to know more about him. It is the video through which Seth, who never met his father in this life, will come to know him. It is the Matt my children and I will remember and think of for the rest of our lives, and every minute of it was filmed the Sunday that Matt went to the studio instead of going to church.

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I'm starting to assume more often than I used to that the people I encounter in life are doing the best they can. And more often than not, our best really is good enough.