I left school aged 16 with only one GCE (in Art if you really want to know) much to the derision of family and friends. It was a very humiliating time for me. Fortunately I was persuaded to return to school and re-do my Fifth Year, which was also a very humiliating experience. Earlier this year, aged 80, I received my official letter from the University of Winchester confirming the Examiners’ recommendation that I be awarded a Doctor of Theology and Practice. This follows a number of other academic achievements over the years including BA in Theology; M.Th. in Applied Theology; M.Phil. in Divinity. Why do I recount this tale? Not to ‘blow my own trumpet’ but to encourage those who either feel a failure in life, or believe they are now too old to achieve anything, to never give up but to ‘keep on keeping on.’  

One of my grandsons is about to complete his final year at university. Another grandson is in the process of taking his GCSEs whilst his brother is in the process of selecting his options for his own GCSE subjects. How will they all fare? I don’t know but I wish them the best and pray they will achieve their potential. At the same time I am aware of all those who will not do so well and who will feel very much like I did all those years ago when I failed the majority of my GCEs. This world can be a cruel place… artificial, harsh, unforgiving, judgmental… and all too often dismissive of others who don’t quite ‘pass muster’. Admittedly the educational system in the 1950s/1960s was very much exam based which didn’t favour those of us who were blessed with a ‘good forgetery’ rather than a good memory. Remembering stuff was really difficult for me whereas researching stuff and writing it up was right on my wavelength. As a result I have really benefitted from the shift away from examinations to modular research. Having said that not everybody’s gifts are academic and I know a number of people who are the most amazing carpenters, mechanics, artists, musicians, and so on, who would never pass an academic exam but who bring amazing gifts to the table, so to speak.

To ‘press toward the mark’ is a phrase that comes from the Bible (specifically Philippians 3:13,14)  and means striving for greatness and excellence in all aspects of life. It involves making conscious choices and taking intentional actions in order to achieve our goals or purposes. Paul is using a sports competition metaphor. An athlete doesn’t run aimlessly, but straight towards the finish line in order to win the prize. He or she focuses on the finishing line to win the gold medal. Pressing toward the mark means living with purpose, determination, and a relentless pursuit of our highest potential. Paul does not define here what the coveted prize will be other than to indicate that it aligns in some way with the call of God that comes to each of us in and through Jesus Christ, a call to reach upwards for that which is currently beyond us. It is perhaps important to note here that – whether or not we believe in him – God has a plan and a purpose for each one of us and that the best way to get the best out of life is to align ourselves with that plan and purpose.

God tells us, through his prophet Jeremiah, that he has ‘plans for us, plans for good and not evil, plans to give us hope and a future’ (Jeremiah 29:11). Through the Apostle Paul God reminds us that he has a purpose for each one of us in life and that ‘in everything God works for the good of those who love him, those who have aligned themselves according to his purposes’ (Romans 8:28). Whatever else being ‘created in the image of God’ (Genesis 1:27) may mean (and it probably means a lot of things) it implies inherent potential within each one of us – potential which God wants us all to achieve. So… seek to learn what God’s plan and purpose for your life is, and never give up, never give in but keep pressing on, until that potential is achieved, whatever it may be, and however long it takes… keep keeping on!

I am not suggesting that the way forward is easy. There will always be those who will tell you the opposite of this, of course – you have probably already met some of them along the way in your own journey thus far. Those with a serpentine voice (Genesis 3) that subtly casts doubt on virtually everything in the attempt to undermine you achieving your potential. The ‘tatty old prophet’ types (1 Kings 13) who, having failed to live up to their own potential, and often consumed by jealousy, seek to drag others down with them rather than encouraging them to keep pressing on in the plan and purpose of God.  It was when I was in my mid-30s that I was first given the opportunity to study part-time for a Batchelor’s degree in Theology. The Elders of the church where I was the Pastor at that time refused me permission (even though it would not have cost the church anything in terms of time or money) in the belief that such theological education was unnecessary. It was another 10 years before I had the opportunity again. Over the intervening years between then and now, despite my academic progress, I have been mocked at times by contemporaries, told I was not clever enough to get a doctorate by prominent academics, and even (when I was only 65) told that I was too old for such study. Thankfully, despite the negative voices there have also been a lot of Barnabas’ (Acts 4:36) along the way who have encouraged me to keep on keeping on.

One final thing to throw into the pot at this stage – and something I think is really important – is the need to keep humble especially as you progress up the so-called ladder of achievement. Having spent the last 40 years or so mixing with the academic world I have observed that it is the habitat of a lot of oversized egos oftentimes all warring with each other for a higher place at the table (Luke 14:1-14). With this in mind there are two final passages from the Bible I would leave with you in your pursuit of your potential. Firstly, the advice of the Apostle Paul (someone deemed to have been someone of huge intellect) to the Roman Christians: ‘For by grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you’ (Romans 12:3). And in his Letter to the Philippian Christians Paul reveals the other side of the same coin: ‘do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others’ (Philippians 2:3,4).   

Jim Binney