Stepping Away From Perfection

Have you ever felt that you can’t escape the trap you have put yourself in? The trap that our culture has us in? The trap that the Enemy has us in?

I recently read a book called The Turquoise Table, which was gifted to me by a dear, dear friend. She knew the timing of it in my life would be very fitting (it’s about building community in your back FRONT yard by getting to know those around you, especially your neighbors). I could go on and on about this book as it has given me some very practical thoughts about how to offer hospitality, not entertainment. I don’t want to hide behind the place settings and the food on the table, but want to offer real life when people meet us and get to know us.

And one thing that I know I need to continue to work on is moving past perfectionism. Many of us feel we need to have a Pinterest-perfect home. A wardrobe from the latest fashion trends. A planner where every page is filled with ink of the latest social events. A life filled with nothing getting in the way of what we want and what we feel the “ideal” life is.

One thing I love about moving is the fact that you get to “start over.” Not that there was much I would change about my life in Minnesota, but it always offers the opportunity to re-evaluate and create a new life and routine. I have put much thought into this idea of creating a new routine and what I find myself going back to is the fact that I need to step away from trying to be perfect. I feel our life’s circumstances over the years have helped me do just that, but all I truly want is to be the hands and feet of Jesus by just being REAL.

I look at our walls and there is not a single thing hanging on them at a moment and I must admit, there is something about the simplicity of it that I am actually enjoying. Okay, maybe a clock would be helpful, but even then, I’m not binding myself by time. The counters are getting clearer and clearer, the to-do list getting (semi) shorter, and we hope to start getting into a routine soon. But what I don’t want to get caught up in, is the need to be perfect and having everything “just right”. Yes, I want our home to be inviting, but we do NOT have a perfect life. In fact, our story is pretty messy. Okay, it IS messy. But what I see is perfection in how God is orchestrating our life.

So let me ask, what truly is the ideal life? Every single one of us would have a different answer. I would sometimes love to say goodbye to my heart issues (as I can tell my valve is getting worse and worse), but I know there is beauty in the messiness of that. It is teaching me much about life, worry, faith, and God’s perfect timing. It’s not ideal, but it is to God because His desires for me are much greater than what I could ever fathom. It makes me take a step away from perfection and accept reality, accept real life, and accept the circumstances God has us in.

We all duck for cover behind perfectionism, claiming it to be the thing we have, when in reality, none of us have it. What we really need, is imperfection. We need each other’s scars. We need each other’s experiences. We need each other’s listening ears. And we need each other’s vulnerability. Let’s step away from trying to be perfect and let’s step into relationship – true relationships. God has given us each other to walk hand in hand with as we walk closer to Him. And it is a waste of time, waiting to approach the throne of grace and even each other, until we are perfect. That day will never come. So let’s come together as brothers and sisters in Christ, imperfect.