An artists work is simply not perfect, no matter how much they try to attain it.
And that’s the beauty of it.
Because what is being perfect anyway? Some standard of measurement that an individual or fluctuating culture set?
Why do we rack our brains trying to push something to this illusive bar?
Because in reality, it’s the imperfections that bring the richness of soul.
It’s the struggle that brings meaning.
It’s the heart behind any piece that brings its value and...
it’s the love poured into, invested in and cultivated where the piece gets its worth.
So what is perfection? Really, not worth obtaining.
So embrace the flaws, the failures, the muck. For out of those, true character is born.
And that in and of itself, is perfect. Because only in those walls, that fine print, do we find a Holy God, holding us up, leading us out and loving us beyond measure. And He is perfect.
So follow Him. Let go of shifting standards that are not His.
And do the work.
Create the piece.
Do what you are called to do.
For in its imperfections, God makes it perfect.
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us," (Rom. 5:3-5).
Photo © Candice Irion, 2015.
This piece didn't look like this the first time I finished it. An onlooker came by, picked it up and broke the front wall!! While I was operating on it during "surgery", I broke another piece! Ugh.
Others would say: "just let it go", "scrap the piece". But, I couldn't. I had to save it.
And it came out way better than planned, making the perfect gift.
And the same is true with each one of us too.
In our imperfections we are made perfect through the grace of God and the blood of Christ. Those broken pieces, He restores.
For like our artistic pieces, we are God's masterpiece.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Eph. 2:10).
So, whatever faults, failures and the muck we have, He sees Himself not in our sin, but in the redemption of our sin.
And in His eyes, there is nothing imperfect about our salvation. For He gave it to us for the enriching of our souls.
Therefore, regardless of what you've done, remember:
It’s the struggle that brings meaning; for it leads us to God.
It’s the heart turned towards Him that deepens our faith, which He counts of greatest value and...
it’s His love poured into, invested in and cultivated in us where we get our worth.
So what is perfection? Really, only obtained in Christ.
So embrace your flaws, your failures, your muck. For out of these, true character is resurrected.
And that in and of itself, is perfect.
Because only in those walls, that fine print, do we find a Holy God, holding us up, leading us out and loving us beyond measure. And He is perfect.
So follow Him. Let go of shifting standards that are not His.
And do the work.
Clothe your perishable self in the imperishable.
Press forward and...
Do what you are called to do.
For in our imperfections, God makes us perfect.
"For the perishable must cloth itself with the imperishable and the immortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory," (1 Cor. 15: 53).
"He gives us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Cor. 15: 57).
"These have come so that your faith --of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed," (1 Peter 1:7).
Copy and Photo © Candice Irion, 2015. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture Passages: Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and 1 Peter. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: New International Version. Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1996. Print.
