Gifts of Lent: Rest from Perfect
There are speeches that live beyond the life of the speaker. We all know phrases like “I have a dream” and “Four score and seven years ago” that remind us of the purpose and passion of the one who originally spoke them.
In the recent Barbie movie, actress America Ferrera brilliantly describes the plight of the modern woman. After an exhaustive list of conflicting demands we can all relate to, she concludes with this: “I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.”
This speech started me thinking about my personal journey with perfection. I grew up with the adage, “Any job worth doing, is worth doing right.” The problem with these “encouraging words” is the anxiety produced by anything less than right and who gets to decide when it’s right, anyway?
One year, as I feverishly prepared for a fun-filled birthday party for one of my kids, my son looked me in the eye and said, “Mom, it doesn’t have to be perfect.” And I thought, “That’s easy for you to say, but everyone expects it.” Is that true? It felt true. If I’m completely honest, it still feels true. But do I go to other people’s events expecting perfection? No!
The Truth is that the only perfect Man is Jesus. You and I can only do the best we can with the resources (experience, education, finances, energy, time) that we have. This Lenten season, join me in resting from perfect.
Do you know what else is perfect? God’s way (Psalm 18:30); God’s Law (Psalm 19:7); and God’s works (Deuteronomy 32:4). And two beautiful promises from Isaiah:
“Lord, You are my God; I will exalt and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
