I wrote yesterday about a poorly performing pianist giving a concert. It was clear to me that whatever strengths this guy has, music isn’t one of them. I’m reminded of the movie Rudy. It’s the true story of an undersized guy who wanted to play football for Notre Dame. He wasn’t even academically qualified to get into Notre Dame, but he persisted academically, got accepted to Notre Dame after several tries, walked on to the football team, and ended up on the daily practice squad. He finally gets into the last game of his senior year. It’s an inspiring story. I teared up again just reading the plot synopsis.

But it’s the same question as yesterday. Why would a guy want to do something that he’ll never be good at? StrengthsFinder is a popular assessment tool, and the book that introduces the concept opens with the story of Rudy. Author Don Clifton, while acknowledging that it’s a feel good story, is not a fan. He argues, as I asked, why would someone pursue an activity that’s not within their strengths?

My friend Ray, who loves the movie, answered the question:

He wanted to be part of the process.

As I wrote about my Lego Notre Dame Cathedral, each of the 4,383 pieces is an essential part of the structure. Some are not even visible. Some parts are generic – you might see parts just like them in another Lego project. Other parts are specialized. But all are vital.

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2.21 – 22, NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2.10, NIV)