Day 169 - Week 25 - Perfect
Scripture focus: God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Psalm 51:10 The Message
The movie Hook has several shaming scenes. While on a flight to England, Jack (Peter Pan's son) is tossing a baseball and catching it in his glove. His passion for the game is obvious. So is his anger. Jack's dad has missed one too many baseball games, and this kid isn't going to take it anymore. Jack's behavior angers his dad - who's petrified of flying (ironic for Peter Pan). The root issue isn't really an absentee dad; the real problem is that Jack's dad has lost his place in the story. He's forgotten that his true identity is Peter Pan. He's playing a game of pretend - pretending to be a mature man of influence in his business world. If we don't know who we are, we don't know the next right thing to do. Peter, fueled by both his fear and current state of personal amnesia, hollers at his son, "Stop acting like a child!!"
Jack responds, "I am a child." Jack's behavior is developmentally appropriate - Peter's is not.
I saw a young genius interviewed recently on a television show. He's about ready to graduate from graduate school at the ripe old age of ten. He talked about the need for serious study and the pursuit of excellence. He explained to the interviewer that intelligence is both a gift and a responsibility - playtime must be sacrificed for the sake of more important things. I wish his mom and dad had seen Hook. At the moment, this kid is getting lots of attention for his perfectionistic pursuit of academia.
On national television this young man espoused the value and pursuit of perfection; but that's not his only truth. He's also overworked and underplayed. Since no one can be perfect, striving for it leaves us disappointed - no human can sustain this kind of energy expenditure without repercussions. This boy is only ten - and he already needs a makeover. I know he wants perfection, but some day he's going to crave peace. Unless he learns a few important principles, he may look for this peace in all the wrong places. Here's what I wish he knew:
· Accepting our limitations is liberating.
· Accepting the mercy and grace of God is healing.
· Accepting our limitations often frees us to achieve our potential.
It takes a lot of energy to try to avoid mistakes; once we figure out the real deal, we can relax. Flaws no longer flatten us - they inform us. We prefer success, but failure becomes more about learning than losing. Sometimes we even risk failure and find success! This kind of large living is a darn sight more peaceful than the passionate and painful pursuit of perfection. May you find the right kind of peace today!
Recommended reading: 1 Kings 16 and 17 in the morning; Psalm 134 in the evening
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