One thought on “Book Club – “Chasing Perfect” (Week Three)”

1. 

   The U.S. Army’s slogan is “Be All You Can Be.” In reality, however, we live in a “Do All You Can Do” society. No one really cares who you are – we’re only interested in what we do. Maybe it’s because doing is the “proof” – in a way – of being. Talk is cheap as it’s been said – but if you walk the walk, that’s what matters. I get this in some ways, but think there’s more to it.
   Maybe we highlight what we do because we feel the competitive cultural nature and don’t want to be left out. Therefore, the “need to succeed” mentality kicks in, and we strive at any cost to have what society deems as prosperous.
   But maybe, just maybe, we focus on what we do or elevate what we’ve done because we simply don’t know who we are.
   I never thought I was a people pleaser. I have considered myself a peacemaker. Recently though, I have been seeing how those two can be one in the same or at least blend together. Pleasing people or making peace is something I think I’m good at. But I’ve let this shape me to the point where I often don’t speak up when needed or share my true feelings.
   My identity, in a lot of ways, has become founded upon perception – not only how I view myself but also how others views me. If I don’t share my opinions or feelings, the perception is everything’s fine. This may work for awhile, but eventually the truth comes out and my real opinions and feelings bubble over. The crazy thing is much of the time how I think or feel isn’t necessarily bad or wrong – I’m just not comfortable expressing myself because I’m worried what people are going to think of me.
   And if I’m honest, this mentality has spilled over into my relationship with God. He’s been showing me how “careful” I am with myself so His perception of me is “good.”
   I definitely have been confusing surrendered effort with successful effort. Again, we are taught and encouraged to perform, pile on, and juggle all we can…perfectly. We all know this is impossible, and yet as long as there’s the perception we’re succeeding, we consider this a win! So we keep going, regardless how exhausting it becomes.
   Being and doing are related and work together. We are human beings called by God to do things, for Him. When we overemphasize the doing aspect though, we start having issues. “Dysfunction of the soul isn’t a problem of division, but of order.” (Page 154) Furthermore, even our being isn’t enough as Romans 3:23 states: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
   I don’t have to wonder what God thinks of me. He knows me: my being and my doing are not good in and of itself. I can’t change His perception of me. Others may not be able to see the real me, but He isn’t convinced by my people-pleasing skills.
   Then what hope do we have? Christ! He sees us as we are, loves us as we are, calls us as we are, and transforms us moment by moment so we resemble Him more and more. In the same way that we can’t convince God we’re different, He shows us how to be and do differently, through Christ.
   This doesn’t mean we don’t struggle (daily) with trying to be and do on our own, but it does mean we don’t have anything to prove and are truly able to rest in Him.

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