JUGHEADS
Youth Juggling Company, LLC
5905 Concord Avenue
Edina, MN 55424
jugheads@comcast.net
612.229.3348

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January 2010

“Relative Expectations”

I enjoy two quotes that speak to the balance we need in life regarding expectations, both self-imposed and externally-imposed: 1) “If you keep your expectations tiny, you’ll go through life without being so whiny” (Matt Groening). 2) “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed” (The Apostle Paul). Given those two extremes—lowered expectations for daily life and heightened expectations for eternal life—I propose that we need to adjust our expectations according to each situation and circumstance. “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” or so the old adage goes; such an attitude attempts to maintain optimism but also wise realism. Whether adjusting the family budget in a recession; re-directing energy after a sports injury; mending a heart after a broken relationship; or setting one’s sights on a career-long or life-long goal, many expectations are always in flux and therefore a good test of personal character.

In 2010, the coaches & I will continue to help the Jughead youth shoot for high goals, graciously accept unmet expectations, and learn the virtues of perseverance, delayed gratification, and the peace that comes with knowing that some of the best hopes & dreams are fulfilled in unexpected ways. “Relative expectations” is not merely a New Year’s Resolution; it’s a noble lifestyle choice to learn the balance between optimism, realism, and eager expectation for our hopes to be fulfilled beyond all we could ask or imagine.