Goodbye Mr. Perfect- Rabbi Doniel Staum

few months ago don larson died who was don larson in the 1956 world series a pitcher for the new york yankees pitched a perfect game not only was it significant then it continues to be significant now because he is the only pitcher in major league baseball history that pitched a perfect game in the postseason 27 men came up to that and 27 men got out all 27 of them no one reached base not a hit not a walk not an error so the question is i ask my students does that mean don larson is one of the greatest pitchers ever because the truth is he wasn't were it not for that one game he might not even be remembered so much he's remembered because of that incredible one game which is also significant to know that one game can bring a person into the record books but it doesn't make you one of the best pitchers ever why is that significant i saw a quote once about sandy koufax from one of the catchers who caught a game that he pitched also in the world series and he said that you saw that kofax didn't have his best stuff he was mixing pictures he was trying to go with his fastball and then his curveball he said you knew he didn't have his best stuff but you also knew that he was going to keep his team in the game the mark of greatness is not to be your best every single day because you're not going to be the mark of greatness is perhaps consistency that even when you don't have your best stuff you keep your team in the game you have to work a lot harder mix your pitches do whatever you can but you're gonna and you're gonna give up runs you know you're not gonna be lights out but you're still gonna give it your best shot in our avodah hashem sometimes we feel if i'm not davening like i did on you kipper then what's it worth if i am not enthusiastic and passionate like on pesach night if i'm not learning then what's the point but that's a big mistake because greatness is not just about being excited during those milestones and those great holidays and those great days it's about even on the morning when i wake up and as in the lingo i'm not down for it i'm not down for learning i got down for doubting i'm just so not in the mood to push myself and to be able to do it anyway it's not going to be my best opening ever but i sort of speak keep it in the game i'm doing my best i'm trying that's the mark of godless i saw a line from the stiper in one of his letters to grinder digrazo where he writes that the icker of her deception the mane of the hashem is at times of nephilim times when a person is feeling down they don't feel that excitement and they're pushing themselves and he says an incredible thing he says when a person is not in the mood of learning and he pushes himself to learn and even less interest in doing at that time it's like bringing a carbon hola to hashem what an incredible concept bring the corbin ola i'm bringing myself to him i'm pushing myself from showing my sacrifice my observance on the highest level it's not about being perfect it's about being consistent it's about being doing my best even when i don't feel my best and even when i might not be in the mood