Thursday, October 30, 2014

He's Not Perfect

Baxter has his moments when his shadow side shows. He gets stubborn. He can scratch or bite, usually not intentionally. He leaves paw prints on the floor of the kitchen or the windshield of the car. He drags litter trapped in his paws onto the bathroom floor, and he leaves tuffs of hair around after a vigorous scratch. By human standards cats aren’t perfect, but these imperfections don’t get in the way of our valuing and loving them. In fact, in a strange way, they make them more lovable. If Baxter were always neat and cute and unflawed by my standards, he would also be a less interesting and engaging companion. He would be so predictable as to be boring. One thing Baxter isn’t is boring to have around.

The same holds true for us humans. Our imperfections mark our character as unique and intriguing. The quirks we have, the foibles we follow, the bad habits we develop, even sometimes the sins we commit show us for who we are. We may not always like this side we see in ourselves and others, but it is part of what makes us lovable, nonetheless.

These imperfections show that we are still growing, still on the way to becoming the persons God made us to be. We don’t have it all together and sewed tight. There are loose threads and untucked shirts to take care of before our final appointment with God. In addition, our imperfections remind us that we need each other. People who think they are perfect take care of whatever is needed themselves. They have no faults, but they try to correct those they recognize in others. Consequently, they actually have no genuine relationships in their lives, because everything and everyone relates to and through them. Only their standards count, and everyone else must either measure up or be dismissed. It’s a very clean and neat world, but a very solitary and sterile one. No one matters except the perfect standard bearer.

Jesus presents such a different picture. Those that matter most to Him are the ones who miss the mark, who are condemned by others as sinners, unclean or blasphemers. It is precisely these imperfections which are the opening for Jesus to introduce them and those who will hear to the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is not a haven for the lost and forsaken where they discover the gifts of God’s love and mercy, and offer thanks to Him for these gifts. This makes all the difference in their lives, and once they realize it, they begin to cooperate with this grace to do God’s work and become different persons. Perfectionism is disguised egoism, and there is no place for God when we fill up our lives with ourselves - our ambitions and expectations,  our needs and wants, our standards. God expects us to accept His grace, serve others’ needs, and strive for the standards of the Kingdom where all life is respected and those in the most vulnerable conditions of life are seen as blessed.

Perfect pets don’t exist. Perfect people don’t either. Only God is perfect, and He accepts us as we are and shows us a better way. If we follow this way, we will have many lovable companions to share life’s journey and a homecoming at our final destination in God’s Kingdom.