JOYFUL PIECE #110
Our search for perfection...
Sometimes, wisdom from some Americans suggests that we have tried too hard to achieve perfection in democracy. Is that not a contradiction? If democracy reflects the “will of the people”, and if the people are eternally in transformation, how is anyone’s idea of perfection in any sphere of our lives to be realized?
The Japanese have developed Kintsugi: the art of repairing cracks in ceramics with gold dust. Those “Imperfections” can be incorporated into an even more beautiful piece.
I actually think that perfection is a kind of nightmarish wish dream. If you think of it socially, the people who promise perfection on earth are actually the totalitarian dictators who want to run everything themselves and are offering a false promise in order to seduce people into some sort of political or social pathology.
PARKER PALMER
Can we be too fanatical in expecting those Americans who are not at our vantage point of political reality to move at the pace that we would want in a “perfect” world? Here I am treading on very thin ice because I have not the level of wisdom to declare my views to be the correct views. However, there are many times where we can promote, (and even demand), compassion, justice, mercy, self-control, gentleness. And always through our example we can demonstrate generosity, patience, goodness, faithfulness.
In these times of trial, as in all times, must we not be resilient in pursuing the courses of actions that we know to be right while being mindful not to be seeking a perfection that humanity is not yet capable of approaching?
We must be mindful to observe all the tenets we expect in a democracy. That means shunning greed and entitlements that forget the rights of others; shunning addiction to luxury and violence; avoiding groupthink, and mass hysteria. Are we able to do that while being gentle with those who are not yet ready to see, from where they stand what we see from where we stand?
Should we not resist with joy without succumbing to that which we are trying to avoid?
This link provides more insights on the pursuit of perfection: https://email.cac.org/t/d-e-suktkiy-tlkrtyhidu-s/
You always have the most timely messages Manuel. My meditation app mentions Kintsugi too, such a beautiful art.
Recently I was complaining to my Canadian friend, (who is a wonderful Pastor and has become kind of a spiritual guide for me), about my inability to get back down to my ideal weight, just two pounds to go. He knows the turmoil the current political situation here has been causing me. He made the connection that my anxiety about my weight might be making my anxiety about this political situation worse. It's a tiny nuance, but this perspective helps let the air out of the tires a bit.
Love this. Like Kintsugi, the Jewish practice of Tikkun Olam ("repairing the world") starts from the place that as creation unfolded, vessels of Light shattered and scattered ... and our job is to be responsible to our own shard, our own piece of repair. This is not about perfection, but rather our commitment to repair.