When Effort Outruns Ability

Yesterday I talked about loving basketball even though I was short enough to qualify as a “floor‑level player.” Today I want to talk about something related, the strange, hilarious moments in life when effort outruns ability.

Wednesday is a good day for that kind of honesty. By mid‑week, you’ve already tried a few things, succeeded at some, failed at others, and you’re starting to realize which battles you probably shouldn’t have picked in the first place.

When I was young, I didn’t just play basketball, I believed in basketball. I believed in it with the kind of confidence only a kid can have. I believed that if I tried hard enough, I could overcome physics, genetics, and the fact that the rim was basically in another zip code.

And I tried. Oh, I tried.

I tried jump shots that looked more like hopeful tosses. I tried layups that required divine intervention. I tried blocking shots from guys who could have used me as a backpack.

But here’s the thing: I never stopped trying. Even when the scoreboard suggested I should. Even when my height suggested I should. Even when the coach suggested I should maybe consider chess.

And that’s the funny part, sometimes the things we try and fail at end up being the things that shape us the most. Not because we mastered them, but because they taught us something about ourselves.

Basketball taught me determination. It taught me resilience. It taught me humility. It taught me that sometimes the best stories come from the things you weren’t good at.

And honestly, it taught me to laugh at myself, which might be one of the most spiritual disciplines there is.

So on this Wednesday, here’s my encouragement: Don’t be afraid of the things you tried and failed at. They’re part of your story. They’re part of your growth. And sometimes they’re part of your humor, which your soul desperately needs.

Keep trying. Keep laughing. Keep learning. Even if the rim is still way too high.