The Perils of Perfectionism


Yesterday, I wrote about the difficulties of being a Demi-Goddess--defining our self-image by our actual physical image. As told in the unraveling story of Demi Moore's descent. May she rise anew and ascend with an all-around image more spiritually-grounded. God's image in us, marred by the Fall, still reflects the perfection of God. We all have Eden in our collective consciousness. An ideal world gone wrong through bad choices. It is now in our genes.

But, the perfection that was possible, and the perfection of God, haunts us like a specter. The shadow self knows that there is a sun shining, exposing our sin, illuminating our flaws. A zit on the forehead of our souls. Do we pick at it, avoid thinking about it? Trapped.

Perfectionism is an outcome of the Fall. We strive to be perfect, thinking anything less is a failure. Now, this just applies to higher achievers who actually want to get "A's" in life. There are far too many slackers and sluggards who revel in their mediocrity. "D" lifers, dumb and dumber. So, if you are that type, this discussion does not pertain to you. Yet. For to care has a hard cost.

But those who do struggle with perfectionism, tend to think like this: "Total success or total failure." The middle ground obliterated by all or nothing thinking. Rock star or ruin. This attribute is actually an attempt to be like God in the wrong way, much like Satan's seductive suggestion to Eve in the Garden to be like God. We are not God, never were and never will be. Even without the Fall, we were still finite. With the Fall, we are both fallen and deeply flawed.

Salvation and sanctification have an "already but not yet" quality. This "already not yet" term is typically applied to Eschatology. Jesus has come, is reigning, but the battle with the flesh and devil and the world is still in progress. That is also played out in our individual lives. We are not what we were but neither are we what we will be. God shall complete His work in us. Strive to be a better soul for that is the road to becoming the best that God made you to be. Don't permit perfectionism to obstruct your progress.
              

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shake the Dust: Anis Mojgani

Pslam 90:2 "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." I am not real certain where Anis Mojgani comes from belief-wise. Cats like him tend to be synchrestic spiritually rather than Christ-centered. Yet, this poem captures the spirit of Jesus. What this poem also needs is grace....we shake off sin and mortality and take on Christ and immortality. This is for the fat girls This is for the little brothers For the former prom queen And for the milk crate ball players This is for the school yard wimps And the childhood bullies that tormented them Shake the dust. This is for the benches and the people sitting upon them. This is for the bus drivers driving a million broken hymns And for the men who have to hold down 3 jobs, Simply to hold up their children. For the nighttime schoolers And for the midnight bike riders trying to fly Shake the dust. For the two year olds who cann
Read more

White Shoes, White Stones

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it. (ASV) With the white stone mentioned above in the Scripture verse, "And will give him a white stone" it is "Supposed that by the white stone is meant pardon or acquittance, and the evidence of it; and that there is an allusion here to the custom observed by judges in ancient times, who were accustomed to give their suffrages by white and black pebbles; those who gave the former were for absolving the culprit, those who gave the latter were for his condemnation." (Clarke) What has brought about this essay was my purchasing the other day of some very white and new Nike jogging shoes. My old pair of Nike's have been worn down. I was developing serious pain in my feet which is a solid sign that it is t
Read more

Going Rogue: Dare, Risk, Dream

Image
I picked up a bumper sticker at a Pub recently from the Rogue Brewery . On it there are the words: DARE, RISK, DREAM. Typically, the word Rogue is a negative term. I will let you decide if Sarah Palin and her book has made the word less or more so. Initially, I taped the bumper sticker to my computer lap top with the backing still on it in case I wanted to remove it. Just a second ago, I committed fully, and pulled the backing off and affixed it to my Dell. No turning back. Is that not an illustration of how to accomplish great things? We have to stick and commit. If we go taping ourselves to the backs of things, it leads to easier removal but also to tepid efforts. Now, if I take this bumper sticker off the back of my lap top it is going to be a mess...I am all in. Consequences be damned. My summer vacation officially began today at noon (why else would I be blogging at 3:26 am?) and my creed for the summer is DARE, RISK, DREAM. A Kerouac quote to light the fireworks... "Great th
Read more