I thought about the quote on excellence from legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi. It is powerful.

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

My mind extended Lombardi’s comment to some specific areas of life, and I wondered if anyone might desire these things.

• An excellent life
• An excellent family
• An excellent marriage
• An excellent relationship with others
• An excellent relationship with God

It seems that each of these begins with a commitment to excellence, a desire to go the extra mile, above and beyond, with effort and enthusiasm. We sometimes get worn down with the “things” of life and we settle for just a day-to-day existence rather than a life marked by excellence.

The late Fred Smith wrote about excellence in relationships and what it takes to have quality relations with others.

“[Relationships] must be planned and maintained. Like flowers in a beautiful garden they must be arranged harmoniously, artfully, and synergistically. Each flower must be well related to another.”

Smith also said it is not a formula we follow in order to build excellent and beneficial relationships.

“It is important to avoid looking for a formula. A relationship is much more. A current phrase puts it this way: ‘Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship.’ For example, when the Philippian jailer asked, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ Paul didn’t give him a formula or a set of rules…he outlined a relationship: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.’”

Whether it is a relationship, a ministry, a marriage, or our faith, we should pursue excellence with our whole heart. Then, see what the Lord will do with the focus and commitment toward excellence in each of these important areas. Again, the American football coach expressed his wisdom.

“Excellence must be pursued, it must be wooed with all of one’s might and every bit of effort that we have. Each day there’s a new encounter, each week is a new challenge.”

Today…this week…accept the challenge. Pursue excellence.