We wouldn’t admit it, we might even deny it, but we dream of perfection don’t we? We dream of the day when we’ll just get it all right and get ahead enough to breathe! Deep down we want to be perfect, but we never will be in this life. Matter of fact, I would even say that the desire of perfection is a distraction to what’s really important.

There is something in us that not only desires perfection, but that hates failure! The word alone frightens us! We don’t want to fail, failing is bad…so we learned in school! It’s engrained in us that our goal should be to get “A+” and “100%” Which is ok when we’re eight, but life isn’t a “Spelling Bee Friday test” that we take each day.

I have a theory/slogan, that may discourage some & others might deny, it goes…”failure is inevitable, perfection is unattainable, obedience is practicable!” (as in, what we should be in the daily practice of doing) More than that, our goal isn’t to be perfect or void of failure, our goal is humble & honoring obedience to Jesus!

What’s so hard for me to come to grips with each day, is that the desire in me to “be perfect” and “not fail” is rooted in my pride. My pride gets hurt if I fail or if someone sees my imperfections! What’s worse, the longer my ambition remains to be perfection, the longer it will distract me from my calling…obedience to Jesus!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should forfeit the desire to be excellent (give & do our BEST)! I’m not saying we should not care, not grow, not improve or that failure should be “ok” with us! Failure is only “ok” when we learn from it and improve/grow through it. Repeated failure shows a lack of passion & effort in us and that’s not ok! What’s more, we have to learn to get our definition of failure from Scripture, not the subjective world views that may surround us!

All I’m saying is that our greatest fear shouldn’t be failure, but rather disobedience! I’m just saying that our goal isn’t perfection (rooted in our pride) but obedience to Jesus (growing through His Spirit in us)! If we aren’t careful, perfection can be an “idolic” distraction and destinational myth that diverts our attention away from the ultimate goal of our journey… following & falling more in love with Jesus!

Just what I’m learning….