“Well they don’t want to come here. We’re not perfect.” If I hadn’t promised to be part of the committee, I’d have fled from the room. When did we become self-righteous about not being perfect? And what the heck is perfect anyway?

The people I was listening to were reveling in their imperfection, seemingly following clear instructions that one can never assume perfection. I think this mindset is related to Jesus’ challenge in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Not presuming to be perfect seems to be an inherent challenge whether you believe in Jesus or not.

Whatever your religious belief, I’d offer that Jesus, as distinct from his followers, usually gets things right. This saying comes after a passage on loving your enemies, which can actually be viewed as a way of avoiding having any. The “perfect” saying is then followed by a statement about hiding one’s piety.

So the sequence is 1) “love,” 2) “be perfect,” 3) “don’t brag.” [Yes, this is a huge oversimplification.] But, we don’t say love or bragging isn’t possible. So why do we get hung up on the impossibility of “perfect.” And what does “being perfect” mean?

I keep being reminded of the Pharisee saying, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people” (Luke 18:11). We’ve reversed that one since the Pharisee’s glad he’s righteous.

In other words, we’ve become proud that we’re not perfect. That we’re sinful. We connect with one another on how we get it wrong whether we’re religious or not. Claiming our sinfulness and imperfections (religious and secular) is the new self-righteousness.

I’d like to suggest we are wrong. We are wrong for not claiming we’re perfect right now. Believe for a second that Jesus is right. And that he challenges us with the possible rather than with some lofty ideal that should make us feel continually inadequate.

So. How is “your heavenly Father” perfect?

Well – God’s our creator. Creating, according to Madeline L’Engle, is one of the primary strengths we share with God. A more basic part is that while in the convoluted world of the traditional scriptures “He” is credited with all kinds of emotions, the bottom line, or perhaps more appropriately the opening line, is that creation is, simply, “good.” God doesn’t make junk (attributed to Ethel Waters).

So whatever your relationship is to a creator, just by existing we’re good, perfect right now. At this very moment we can’t be any other way than we are — for the simple reason we are what we are. We, you and I, are by definition perfect. Perfect is not some ideal of a 22-inch waist or of only having “good” thoughts. It isn’t a degree of holiness or likability. It isn’t even being kind or nonviolent. Perfect is simply an acknowledgement that right now, you are who and what you are and that right now, you can’t be any other way. Right now, typing this in a coffee shop in a strange city, I, Sally B. Sedgwick, am perfect. And so is everyone and everything around me.

If you don’t believe me, go out and look around. Pretend you’re watching a movie. Do you see how every character (person) you see is perfect for the scene you’re in? It can’t be any other way. Even the scenery and the weather are perfect. So, this means you are too.

Does claiming yourself as perfect mean you won’t/can’t change? Of course not! Look at a peach. It’s a little hard – a perfect not quite ripe peach. Then it gets a little softer. How perfect! Ooops! No one ate it. It’s a perfect peach showing how things decay, or maybe ready to be planted for new growth. Oh, all you have is the seed? Perfect.

Does claiming yourself as perfect mean things won’t happen that you wish wouldn’t or you won’t do things that you regret? No. But however these things play out, at this minute whatever is simply is. A perfect moment.

However much this may sound like word games, there is a point. One, seeing ourselves and the world as perfect is crucial to learning how to be present, which is the place where the magic of this being human business happens and can be seen. Two, it is also the place of all possibilities. In addition there is the simple amazement of, “so this is what perfect looks like. [Damn, yeah, shit, oh, sigh, yes….]”

Now is what we have. By claiming that now is perfect and that we are perfect, all the possibilities of creation unfold. Play with me! What do you see?

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Photos of peaches – Spirit Moxie