Many people mouth the statement, I am not perfect or I am a work in progress. I believe most, however, are unaware of the profound truth those statements represent.

Imperfection is the state of the human condition – and I am not talking here about “Original Sin.” Imperfection is not bad, evil, or my traits that need to be “fixed.” If I deny my essential imperfection, I am denying my own humanity. If I am busy denying and/or trying to “fix” my imperfect humanity, I am totally unable to affirm yours.

I have been rereading an old, very powerful book called The Spirituality of Imperfection, by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketchham, Bantam Books, 1992.

In my book I discuss Experiential Faith as opposed to Faith/Belief in Dogma. The spirituality of imperfection is very similar to experiential faith.

Here is a quote from page 14 for you to ponder this week:
The spirituality of imperfection is a spirituality of ‘not having all the answers.’ For those who have come to expect an answer to every question, a solution to every problem, and an end to every beginning, such an approach may be disconcerting at first. As we travel around in the past, rummaging through the different [spiritual or religious] traditions, pulling out a thought here, relating a story there, revealing a way of seeing the world from over there, the reader may experience a sense of dislocation and disorientation. But continue on, for this seemingly disjointed wandering is the way of imperfection. By the end of this journey, the jarring notes, spatial dissonances, and cultural cacophonies will blend together into a sort of symphony, a chorus of separate, distinct, and sometimes off-key voices harmonizing into a whole…not perfect harmony, but harmony, nonetheless.”

How the Bible Became the Bible - Exploring how the Bible came to be and why a literal interpretation of it may be dangerous. This exploration may open a door to your continued spiritual growth.

Blessings, Don