I’m not perfect. Here’s a thought, you aren’t either.
The Rub
Here’s the rub: I’m comfortable with my imperfections but yours drive me crazy. I’m good at extending grace to myself and quick to excuse my weaknesses. However, there’s lots of people who need to shape up, and they need to hurry.
Here’s Something
According to the Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs there is a saying tracing back to John Heywood in 1546. Then in 1738 it was used by Jonathan Swift in his Polite Conversation and appeared in the 1713 Works of Thomas Chalkley. The complete saying goes like this:
“There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know.”
How true it is that others are blind and deluded, the poor souls.
The Manifestations
Here is a partial list of how imperfections are manifested:
- arrogance
- pride
- ego
- even bigger ego
- compensating for inadequacy
- hiding the truth about themselves
- believing themselves right about everything and everyone
- always thinking they are the smartest one in the room
- quick to give unsolicited advice about what is right and what to do
- ruled by anger, frustrated by disagreement, resentful of different ideas
Their opinions are unscrutinized, there judgements unexamined, their ideas unvetted. They go about life believing that whatever they think is true. The juxtaposition is they tend to be critical of others who manifest the very same peccadilloes.
They speak their judgements openly and without consideration. As if the whole world sits on the edge waiting to hear them speak.
But enough about me.
Some Wisdom
Proverbs 7:20-22
“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”
“Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may here your servant cursing you–for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.”
James 2:12-13
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.
Mercy triumphs over judgement.”
Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”
To Close
We live in an imperfect world but the world’s imperfection is us, the broken and fallen. The world is imperfect because it’s inhabited by imperfect people. I’m one of them. I tend to be blind and deluded.
