How Important Is Perfection?
I am currently working on a wedding gift for two friends, knitting a blanket for their new house. The only problem is that I am just learning how to knit and the blanket has a lot of mistakes in it — noticeable ones. Each time I pick up the knitting to continue with the gift, I have to fight myself not to rip the whole thing apart and start over. As a gift for my friends, I want it to be perfect.
But during one of those moments, when I was looking at all the mistakes, something dawned on me — my friends probably don't care whether the blanket is perfect or not. The fact that I made it will speak of my affection for them, more so than the quality of the finished product. When I was mentioning this to my spiritual director, she told me that in some Asian cultures artisans purposely put mistakes in their work. They believe that each mistake reveals the humanness of the individual and reflects the beauty and uniqueness of the creator.
God is our creator — "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." (Jer 1:5). He knows our strengths and our weaknesses, and loves us just as we are. He told us that we are lights for the world and that we shouldn't hide that light under a bushel basket. (Matt. 5:14-15) How often do we hold back from trying something, or giving of ourselves, because we are afraid that our attempt will not be perfect? Each time we don't act because we are afraid we are not good enough, we are denying the masterpiece God has created. Perhaps your "imperfection" is really a reflection of the beauty and uniqueness of God.
God is not asking us to be perfect and when we are too concerned with perfection, it holds us back from living. I am not suggesting that we stop trying to do things well, but if our best attempt falls short of our goal—that is okay too. Who we are as a person will always be more important than anything we can create. Chris Muglia makes that point really well in "Masterpiece."
It is hard to embrace our imperfections — but they are a part of who we are. I will be giving my mistake-ridden blanket to my friends next month in an effort to follow my own advice. Let's hope they like it.
"You are the Master of all creation.
Help me to believe I was made by your hands.
Anything I could make pales in comparison to the masterpiece you say I am.
Help me believe that I am."
- Chris Muglia
Related Articles:
Are You Successful in the Eyes of God
Being Perfect: Is it Possible?
Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.