This photo, taken by my friend Brian Williams, reveals something we know to be true, though there is no proof. Experiences, items, relationships, don’t need to be perfect to be beautiful/wonderful. In fact, there is a part of me that prefers the “less than perfect” in all art forms. I shared with Dave and Ann this past weekend at their wedding rehearsal, “there will be miscues, things will not go according to plan, and that is OK, those moments will be some of the things we remember and cherish.” At our wedding the moment I most remember was Victor and Tony (playing the harmonica and accordion), shooing away the Bishop who married us, they had not completed their set of old Gospel tunes.
I like to be prepared. I am a planner. I don’t like messiness to be caused by a lack of preparation. I see no contradiction to this feeling, despite enjoying the imperfect. What bothers me about the event or experience without prior thought or effort is the missed opportunity, how something could have included so much more if time had been spent considering the options, the available offerings. By procrastinating, waiting till the last minute to prepare, I feel the possibilities are narrowed, what might be is now limited by our failure to plan. However, once the plans are made, the alternatives explored, if something goes off script, I am quietly satisfied the Spirit is active and dynamic. The more planning, the more freedom to let things be, and see where events unfold.
A good example is writing a sermon. I write sermons three weeks early. “Aren’t you worried you are tying yourself to a script that won’t be flexible enough to address breaking news?” It’s the opposite, because I have done the work, read the commentaries, thought through the issue I want to address, the stores I might share, I am not stressed late in the week as Sunday approaches. If I want to, I can adjust the words, add new topics, change some of the focus, without starting from scratch.
When I celebrate the imperfect, I am not advocating for a lack of preparation. I have a list of ten things I hope to do every day. But following this list brings me a certain momentum, confidence, a feeling of accomplishing my goals. Thus, as something unexpected pops up, I feel secure in knowing I can take a stab at it. I am not worried about perfection. I am worried about inaction. One step at a time…