Imperfection isn't Sin

Here are my quick, unfiltered thoughts on this subject, but I need your help to work through this!

Sin is what separates us from God, others, and our true selves. Imperfection is what makes us unique. Confusing the two has lead generation after generation into self-doubt, judgement, and sadness.

We seem to spend so much time covering up our imperfections... trying to live up to some ideal that nobody can achieve so we will feel loved and important. (bear with me here) Only reflections from the past, whether they be tangible like photographs or intangible like memories, are given the general cultural approval of "perfect"... but even these are imperfect in their own way. They are an illusion and (as a result) not everyone agrees what they are or how to achieve them. Striving to meet those conflicting expectations is impossible, damaging and pointless. Ultimately it distances us from loving ourselves.

Look: All there is in this world is the journey and if we fill up that process with hollow pursuits, we're more easily led to things that promise a big payoff, but only distance us from loving ourselves (imperfections and all). That is the definition of sin.

Instead, we should make the most of our time and enjoy the journey. You can choose what to fill it with. Make it something beautiful and wonderful. Does someone else not approve of that? Sounds like that's their issue... Not your's. Let go of all the crap you carry around... or at least put it down for a while. I think you'll find it allows you to pick up something much more satisfying. When you stop worrying about your imperfections and loving yourself because of them (maybe just in spite of them at first until you get the hang of it), you have more room to love other people's imperfections. Then you're loving (!!!) which brings you close to others and God. Just try it!

I will struggle with this for the rest of my life. And you should too. It's good.

Perfection is Imperfection

First of all, I've finished the Subtle Knife and have made good progress in the final book of Pullman's trilogy, the Amber Spyglass. But we'll chat about that another time...

It struck me as I was driving home last night (and in the past) that I really love those moments in church where everything goes wrong. When the next overhead slide has the wrong words, I rejoice. When someone singing into the microphone forgets the lyrics or plays a wrong chord, I beam with happiness. When things go wrong, Everything is right.

So many churches spend Monday through Saturday desperately hunting down and eliminating these "embarrassing" moments... as if imperfection were abhorrent in the eyes of God. I see it is exactly the opposite. The moment my church has such a polished product that we consecutively have "perfect" services, I'm out the door. (btw: I don't think it will ever happen)

We should celebrate our blemishes! After all, if God is perfect, the only thing that differentiates us from Him may be our imperfections. Although they might not seem wonderful to us, they're all we really have. Isn't there something wonderful about that? If God had wanted us to be nothing more than exact clones of Him throughout our life, don't you think He would have done just that? And yet here we are... warts and all.

And I love it. Now go be imperfect and rejoice!