We should strive for excellence in all that we do. But this should not give way to a demand for unblemished perfection, as the pride of needing things perfect all too often causes us to hold back our practice of love.
For instance, of course, a young man wants his marriage proposal to his future wife to be special. And he does well to give the moment some thought ahead of time to ensure he puts his best foot forward. This attention to detail is part of how he demonstrates his love. At the same time, he shouldn’t refrain from proposing just because he cannot create a moment of Hollywood perfection. Even if the moment is terribly awkward and filled with many mishaps, the expression of his love and the promise of their union are worth it. And he forfeits this goodness when his pride and fear of embarrassment holds him back.
The same is true throughout our life and relationships.
Our gifts to the world might not be polished to perfection. We might not have the most eloquent speech, fashionable appearance, or implement the latest technology. And while we don’t want to neglect making the most of what we do have, we should not hold back offering our gifts just because our presentation is otherwise unrefined.
When we do, we’re letting the pride of how we appear matter more than the good we’re trying to do. On the one hand, we’re striving to give our very best because we’re seeking to glorify God in all that we do. At the same time, we remember our heart of faith matters more than our ability to deliver it with a goldilocks perfection.
In the end, bring excellence in all that you do. But don’t let pride and the need to appear perfect hold you back from offering your gifts. Embarrassment is a small price to pay to bring more life and goodness into the world.
Photo by Benjamin Thomas on Unsplash
