The Expectation of Perfection

I have this problem. I want to be perfect. And I'm not. I'm far from it. Oh, I strive toward that end. I keep up my outward appearance as best I can. I put on the mask of "everything is great!", even if I'm falling apart on the inside. I even reassure others and take the blame for things, just to make those around me feel better.

This problem showed up when I was younger and quite taken with our Renaissance Festival. We were frequent visitors. My brothers and dad loved the turkey legs. I loved the hair garlands. There was just something about wandering through the dusty paths of the fake village, listening to madrigals and taking in the beautiful costumes. How badly I wanted to lose myself in that era. If only I had a dress...

But it would have to be the right dress. Appropriate to the time period, yet still dazzling.

And then I'd have to have shoes or boots that were accurate.

And of course, I'd just cut my hair. Girls in that time period had long hair.

So dressing up was out. If I couldn't do it perfectly, I didn't want to do it at all.

That tendency carries over to my writing. I know my work isn't flawless. I'm human. I'm bound to have mistakes throughout. Yet, I want perfection.

I work with an editor. Beta readers. Family and friends willing to dedicate the time.

And even after all those eyes review what I've written...after I've fixed the issues...there will still be mistakes. It's just the way of things.

So what's a writer to do?

I place my trust in God. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, He speaks to us through Paul. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

As hard as it is to accept my weakness, I'll take it. If it means God is working in me, by all means, I'll embrace it. And in doing so, that means I must accept the lack of perfection in others. I must throw off the weight of expectation and take what is given with a joyful heart. Paul gives us hope in another verse, Philippians 1:6, saying. "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. "

One day, we will all be made new and perfect in Christ. I look forward to that day. But without knowing what the non-perfect parts of us look like, we'd have no basis for comparison. No reason to celebrate when our perfection arrives.

Soli Deo Gloria.