Sunday, August 10

Today’s Readings: Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Matthew 14:22-33; Romans 10:5-15

As someone who considers himself to be a recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned that lots of folks have misconceptions about perfectionists. One of those misconceptions is that the primary motive of perfectionists is to maintain control at all times and in all places. I’m sure that there are some perfectionists out there who are driven primarily by their need for control. My perfectionism, however, was driven by something else – the need to earn others approval. So what’s another misconception about perfectionists? Another misconception is that they want to run everything. While that may seem true on the surface, there’s another dynamic at work within perfectionists if you watch very closely. And you have to watch VERY closely because most perfectionists are extremely skilled in hiding this. Perfectionists always try to play to their strengths. Doing so allows them to maintain the façade of perfection. When it comes to areas of weakness, however, they avoid them like the plague. After all - weaknesses would expose their (gasp!) imperfections. So what’s all of this talk about perfectionists have to do with any of today’s readings? Well, today’s reading from Romans presents a real challenge for those of us who are perfectionists/recovering perfectionists because it talks about two things we have little if any experience with: (1) letting go, and (2) allowing someone else to take over. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words to the Romans as follows: “Say the welcome word to God – ‘Jesus is my Master – embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what God did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not doing anything [side note here: this statement represents heresy to perfectionists]; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting God to do it for you. That’s salvation.” So where are you in terms of incorporating this concept into your own spiritual life? Have you arrived at the point where you are trusting “God to do it for you”, or are you still trying to get there on your own? My hope for you (and certainly myself!) is that we’ll continue to grow in our ability to let go so that we might get the full taste of this wonderful, grace-filled thing called salvation! Til next time…