Perfection and Pain

These last few weeks have caused me to reflect on the idea of perfection. Is anything really perfect? We want everyone to believe that perfection is achievable. We talk about it in sports, in the way something fits, in a ring, coat, or pair shoes. Is perfection even real?

I’m always amazed at how we try to present ourselves to others. We filter pictures on Facebook and Instagram in hopes that no one will notice our flaws. We advertise the highlight events of our lives and market our best moments. Seldom do you see someone speak honestly and transparently about family, faith, marriage, work, and life. And too often, if they do, it is somehow negative and hurtful.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that life isn’t easy. Marriage is hard. Raising children is difficult. It sucks watching those you love struggle and hurt! Yet, if I watch social media, I’m often given the impression that I’m the only one living in a challenging world. I’m the only one who appears to live in a home where we don’t always get along, where we make decisions we sometime regret, and where things out of our control bring pain.

I confess these last 10-12 years have been hard! There are moments when I have wanted to just stop, disappear, retreat, flea, or run. Some of that has been in my control and other aspects of it have been totally out of my control. There were times when I made decisions that impacted my life, but most of the time the difficulties were completely beyond my control. I had nothing to do with it. I simply suffered during the consequences of it.

Yet, could it be that honesty, transparency, and authenticity are more important than I realize in these moments? Maybe the greatest thing I can do is simply journey or walk with those who need a friend. Perhaps, I have a better chance at impacting humanity by loving, caring, and walking with those who are hurting. What if you and I chose to journey with those who hurt, suffered, and needed a friend?

Who could you journey with today?