Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, April 3, 2012

In life, there are no perfect affections.

Jean Harlow, actress; she was born on

this date, 1911, at Kansas City

Well! Here is a “perfect” and sound theological insight. Alas, the “church” hasn’t quite risen to the theological sophistication of Jean Harlow! Ya never know, do ya!

Harlow’s comment could easily be re-written to say, “We human beings are all misshapen by our frequent choice not to love”. Such is the human condition. Unless you think that “God” is a sadist ~ and what a silly and masochistic thing to think! It certainly indicates the lowest level of “self-esteem” as well as of Imagination.

I was raised until age 16 in a Presbyterian context of “striving for perfection”. Perfection was the standard held up in the preaching, based on a misunderstanding of the Biblical phrase, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. But Harlow reminds us that perfection isn’t humanly possible, strive as we might. And the Gospel reminds us that we won’t get far “striving” on our own. We need each other, and “God”, and the Universe as allies.

Accepting imperfection is, I think, the first step of evolution towards “perfect love”. Our focus has to be not on the goal of perfection, but on a daily hunger and thirst for it ~ and work anchored in reality and humility.

Brian+