Perfection

I'm not perfect. So far from it.

My family knows that. My friends know that.

I know that - and it is my knowledge of my imperfections drives me mad.

I frantically strive for the perfect
outfit
hairdo
schedule
space
response
mindset
friendships
relationships
body language
grammar
grades


Everything.

 I end up striving for this image I want for myself. A perfect one.

I'm such an idiot. Nobody can be perfect - result of the Fall. So why do I try, focusing all my energy on a perfect self-image I will never achieve instead of focusing on staying true to the quirks and imperfections that make me the blundering, awkward, idiotic beauty I am? I have faults - sinful ones to pray about and fight against. But all those other traits and quirks of mine that I cast aside in the "Doesn't-Qualify-For-The-Perfection-I'm-Aiming-At" pile are what makes me ME.

I trip over the floor
I have a lopsided, crooked smile
Sometimes I snortle like a sick dolphin when I laugh
My hair is always messy and wind-blown
My nails are always half-painted
I'm awkward ending a conversation with new people
Sometimes I'm over-the-top weird in an annoying way
My face looks like a pizza and a blender had a party
I mess up and need a firm talk from the mother
I sing like a demented frog

I'm me. An idiot.

Not perfection.

I am me.

:: the world owes you nothing ::

via

*stop being so self absorbed*

*the world does not revolve around you*

*it was here first*

*and you still have so much to learn*

We Aren't Perfect | You are a Star

We all have this idea in our head that to be accepted by peers and the world in general, we must be perfect. When we look in the mirror, we tell ourselves that we are so weird and messed up. 

"How will you ever be accepted?" a little voice whispers. 

But what does "perfect" mean? Do we even know what it is we spend 99% of our time trying be means? The dictionary defines the word as follows::

per • fect
adjective

• having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be. 

• free from any flaw or defect in condition or quality; faultless


Now think about this for a moment. We are trying to hold ourselves to a standard of flawlessness. Why kind of idiotic thinking is this? I mean really.

 Humans have faults. We have things about us that make us different. God made us to be uniquely imperfect beings. 

And who, by the way, is setting the standard for perfection here? Why are you trying to be free from any flaw or defect, when those are what make you, you?

You are as unique as the stars. There are trillions of them, and each one is different. Each one shines in a unique way. You are a star.  Act like it. 


Now, of course, I'm not saying that we don't have sin habits that are bad and that we need to fight against. In that way, God does demand perfection (which we obviously fail at which is why we need Jesus). But I'm not talking about how you lied yesterday. How you intentionally did something that your parents have told you not to. 

I'm talking about that acne on your face. 
I'm talking about the way you walk. 
I'm talking about how you don't like skinny jeans. 
I'm talking about those little quirks that you are telling yourself make you weird. 

Well, darling, I'm here to tell you something. 

Knock it off, and pull yourself together. And I ask you to tell me the same thing.

Remember that you are as unique as the stars.

So shine your light today.

We are Teenagers

We are teenagers. We are insecure. We are awkward. We are trying to figure things out. Figure life out.
    We try to put on an attitude of “I got this”, but inside we are looking frantically about.
    Life is scary sometimes. Life is incredibly amazing sometimes. Why can’t it just be something and stay put?! It confuses us, which makes us even more insecure.

    We are the masters of appearing as something we do not feel inside.

    We are not children, but we are not adults. We are teenagers, searching for our place in the world. We stand awkwardly. Looking for where we are supposed to go and what we are to do. Do I go climb a tree, or do I go look for a job?

    We are the masters of feeling lost and confused.

    We need comfort and something strong to lean onto, but we build up brick walls around ourselves - afraid to let people into our souls. They cannot know my weaknesses, we tell ourselves, they cannot know who I really am or they will think about me differently.

    We are teenagers. We are wonderful creations of God. We have things we struggle with, but we are sons and daughters of a King. We can lean on Him. We can trust Him. We are unable to keep Him out of souls, because He made them. He is our Comforter and our Protector. We can lean on Him.

    We are teenagers. We are funny. We are weird. We make the world a brighter place when we are US. Go outside and yell, “I am ME!! Deal with it!”

    You can be YOU today. Not because of anything in yourself, but because He who causes the stars to shine and the dove to sing loves you, and you can find security in that. Find security in Christ today. Be a teenager. Be “the weirdest person I know” to your friends and family.

    Happy Tuesday.

Leaving a Legacy | What are We on this Earth For Anyway?

“The desire to be famous, to make a difference, to leave a significant mark on society seems to be built into mankind. Dying men leave money for buildings that will perpetuate their name, and young boys and girls dream of being president, a famous baseball player, actor, or well-known singer. Of course, most of us won’t be remembered by our own grandchildren...”
 
- Christopher Walker
   
    This quote really stuck with me when I read it in a textbook last week. It made me think about how true it is that the desire to have your name live on is really ingrained in the human mind.
   
 When your hear the names Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein, Audrey Hepburn, or Abraham - everyone knows who they are. They become the clichés that everyone uses: “Alright, Einstein, that’s enough”, “She’s the Hepburn of our century”, or  “He’s as old as Abraham”.
   
 While not everyone may desire their name to become a cliché or a standard by which other people who follow us are judged, no wants their name to die with them, and so we spend our lives trying to build a story, maybe even a legacy, around our name.
  
  “Who are we?”, I thought, as I leaned back against my chair. “Who are we and what are we doing here? Do we really think that our legacy - our name - can live on forever? Nobody is going to care about Babe Ruth when we’re all in heaven or, yes, hell....”
   
    And so, I’ve been pondering this over the weekend, and this is where I’m going to get really “lame” and remind you (and myself!) why we are on this earth. The Westminster Confession of Faith’s first question is “What is the chief end of man”. The answer is not “Man’s chief end is to bring glory to himself and enjoy the good life”, but rather - Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

    Remember that today, reader. I will try to as well. God has us here to bring glory to HIM. Our Creator and Redeemer. My favorite part, though, is that He helps us to see that that shouldn’t be depressing or hard, because we are to enjoy Him in what we do and enjoy what He has created for us!
   

 Life as a Christian can be hard. Sin presses sharply, and we live in a wicked, depraved culture. But the life a Christian should be set apart in that we are happy people. Why do we have cause to be sad? Christ is our substitute! We have been saved from eternal suffering and have a pass to eternal feasting and bliss. ETERNAL people.
   
    I say, let our obedience to our Savior set our lives apart.

    Happy Monday, people. Glorify God in what you do today.

    And always.

Wednesday Inspiration

"The Last Kiss" from WWII

Each of those women, not knowing if this is the last time they'll touch him. See him. 

He may be dead in two weeks. 

He may never return. 



Those men are brave for being willing to sacrifice their lives for their country. 

And aren't those women equally brave? For being willing to sacrifice the man they love?



Food for thought, dears.