Perfection

The picture painted is pure – a serene figure, simply dressed. His eyes look straight at me, gently challenging my bustle, my lack of commitment. His hands hold a bird, lovingly, recalling stories of how he treated animals as deserving respect, as creatures in their own right with their own obligations.
It is so easy to see this as a Victorian, chocolate-box scene, all meekness and mildness, safe and tidy and remote.
But the man’s real life was so far from this. Furious devotion to his calling, reckless abandonment of all that his wealthy young life had given him, working with his hands to build and create. Attracting a group of friends with the same vision, leading them as best he could to live out his passion. Poverty as both lifestyle and life partner. The natural world as mirror and window. Other people as both precious and perverse. A life of chosen deprivation and active service to others. A face that shone with holiness because it was human, flawed but totally in love with God.
As an imperfect human being, it takes imperfection truly to speak to my soul. Accomplishment that overcomes obstacles is worth more than that obtained without.
Perfection shows itself in weakness.

pax et bonum

Article posted at 10:08am on 15 October 2004
Category: Dreaming, Faith