Home Tools for your Journey Oct 8

Wednesday, October 8

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.
—Genesis 1:3

There are certain verses of scripture that are “keepers.” We have heard them, learned them, and taken them to heart over the years. It seems unlikely that they hold the gift of surprise. And yet scripture always has a little more light to reveal, a little more insight to uncover.

Several years ago I was reading a book by Peter Fleck, titled The Blessings of Imperfection. He noted that the word for “good” in Genesis does not mean “perfect.” It means, “good enough.” There is a bit of imperfection in things that are “good.” And, he noted, this imperfection turns out to be a blessing. 

Is everything in our life perfect? Probably not. But are things good enough? Chances are that they are. And the chances are that if we seek perfection we will find ourselves in a fragile world. There is something troubling about the perfect family, the perfect community, the perfect achievement. Perfection marks an “end.” 

Imperfection inspires a new beginning, a new resolve, a new note to the unfinished symphony, a new editing of our writings, and the work of a new relationship. 

Creation itself is both good and good enough to sustain life.  Let us then be forgiving when we find imperfection, knowing that all we have been given is indeed good enough for us to do the work of God.

God of mercy and grace, we often expect things to be perfect. Indeed, we often expect ourselves to be perfect. Remind us of the blessings of imperfection that we might be renewed day by day in the pursuit of your true Light.