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How to Embrace Imperfection & Faith Filled Friday

7/5/2012

29 Comments

 

How to Embrace Imperfection 
Seeing Jesus as my Wabi-Sabi

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Aw, what a cute family picture. Don't we just look like we have it all together. Matching outfits and cute kids who just sit still, smile and obey.

But here's reality...
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But why is it we long for that perfect shot? Why don't we want to enlarge a picture of crazy to mount on the wall? 

I think it's because our culture (perhaps most cultures?) value being perfect and the best. When was the last time you encouraged someone to try just a little, give just enough or get the second best thing on the menu? 

If our goal in life is to try to be perfect/the best and have it all together (and expect others to as well) then we don't point people to Jesus and His sufficiency but rather our own (or lack of it).

God's perfection is enough to satisfy our inefficiencies. Why not delight in that? 
When Austin and I were planning our wedding I couldn't think of the perfect song for our first dance. I just picked a song and months later I heard the perfect song and was so sad I didn't think of it earlier. In my discouragement the Lord reminded me that Jesus died for mistakes too. 

Our failures shine a spotlight on God's grace. 

So a person like me, a task-oriented, with a tendency toward perfectionism (unless it clashes with wasting time), I use to have to remind myself often, "Enjoy the process Laura."  But it hit me yesterday as my kids were being devoured by green head biting flies in what felt like 110 degree weather with people I didn't really know as I worried about my preschoolers falling off the deck into the Bay, that it's not the process I need to enjoy. Because sometimes the process just really stinks. It's enjoying Jesus as He walks with me through the process. I will never enjoy trying to comfort my screaming 3 year old because a biting fly got in his swim suit and bit him. No, but I can enjoy Jesus, the Comforter and Perspective Giver. 
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How to embrace our imperfection and God's grace

So what does it practically look like to embrace imperfection? What does it practically look like to embrace God's grace?

Have you ever heard of Wabi-Sabi? It's the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection. Sometimes they would clean up a back yard and just before they were done, shake the leaves from a tree just enough to create a little mess as a reminder to embrace imperfection, a sign of beauty.

Embracing imperfection (better known as chaos in our family of preschoolers) for imperfections sake is crazy and definitely not beautiful! But embracing imperfection to see and display Jesus as the Perfect One, now that's an idea! That is beautiful!

Why not put a little flaw in something to remind you Jesus stands as our perfection.  
A reminder we don't need to have it all together because Jesus is our togetherness. 

And really, don't we all need the constant reminder to keep looking to Jesus for His sufficiency instead of our own.

So what can you do today to put a little flaw in something to remind you that Jesus' perfection is your perfection and sufficiency? 
A little too much of 1 ingredient? A dirty car? A pile of mess?
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PS Thanks for your grace as I was not able to write this last week. My own little opportunity to embrace Jesus as my Wabi-Sabi. ;)  Power is back up and have at least some access to the internet so I hope to be back writing regularly next week. (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday's)

Also, a week of no power or internet access gave me some time to think and plan. So I did some fun stuff around Beholding Glory. Go ahead and take a look at the tabs. I hope you are encouraged and blessed! And I so much long to have it all perfect before you see it... but as a reminder that Jesus is my Wabi-Sabi, I am leaving some of it as a work in progress. :)
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Faith Filled Friday Blog Link Up

We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the the Lord somehow. 

So go ahead and link up below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. Please just let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or put my button code (found on my side bar or the Faith Filled Friday Tab) so they can find these other great people glorifying God and we can continue to grow as a community. Thanks!    

And in effort to encourage others in their writing by faith, please take a minute to comment on the two posts linked up before you.    
Subscribe to receive a copy of the Life Purpose Plan; discovering how your uniqueness, current reality and the mission fit together for the glory of God.  

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I'm linking up with Spiritual Sundays, Create with Joy, The Beauty in His Grip, Nebraska Graceful, The Wellspring, The Better Mom        
29 Comments
Gail link
7/5/2012 08:03:31 am

Love that-- Wabi Sabi. The Hungarians say: "Minden roszbam van valami jo" which means "In every bad thing there is something good." Sort of the same concept. Thanks for sharing and for hosting Faith Filled Friday. Bless you, Gail

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Laura
7/5/2012 12:05:22 pm

Wow! You speak Hungarian, how awesome!!!!! It is interesting how different cultures have similar ideas. Speaks to One ultimate story teller.

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Eileen Leacock link
7/5/2012 09:19:22 am

Thanks for sharing and hosting. I loved your article. I tend to want to capture the crazy, we have lots of pictures of crying and hurt children. I like telling the story of redemption that comes with each crazy picture. I find myself wondering what you are saying in picture number two that must make a great story.

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Laura
7/5/2012 12:06:19 pm

How awesome! I would love to do that more....

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patsy link
7/5/2012 09:48:19 am

Hi Laura, wonderful post as usual! But i don't think I have to intentionally do something to make things imperfect! It's automatic with me! I used to be a person who did things fast and didn't need anyone to help- but ever since my health challenges started cropping up, I work slow and everybody has to chip in to help me! God is good! In the midst of everything He is there to help me appreciate everything! :^) patsy

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Laura
7/5/2012 11:57:00 am

Oh so true Patsy. Life is one big mess for us too. (as we are living out of suitcases all summer, yikes.) but even in my what feels like chaos mess I find myself in a rat race to get things together instead of enjoy Jesus, the One who has all things together.

Good job letting people help!! That is such a beautiful thing. :)

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peggy aplSEEDS link
7/5/2012 09:54:07 am

hi, Laura, great post! i have a draft post about Wabi Sabi that you reminded me of. perhaps it wasn't perfect and that's why it didn't get posted, LOL! seriously, when i first heard that word, i loved it! you couldn't have said it better!

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Laura
7/7/2012 03:22:35 am

How funny! I know, wabi-sabi is so fun to say and such a cool concept when centered around Christ. Go ahead and give it a publish, people will be blessed I'm sure. :)

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Shanda Oakley link
7/5/2012 11:00:06 am

I've been reminded more and more of my weaknesses lately and in that, God has been showing me his faithfulness.

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Laura
7/7/2012 03:35:29 am

Evidence of a humble spirit, since pride keeps us from seeing our inadequacies (rather wanting to justify or blameshift) .

Appreciate you Shanda.

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Kate @ Teaching What Is Good link
7/5/2012 11:00:45 am

So reminds me of "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Great post, Laura.

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Laura
7/7/2012 03:39:25 am

One of my favorite verses... (can't believe I forgot to put it. Whoops) Sometimes I feel like I make more mistakes than the average person and the Lord is always bringing me bck to the reality it's not about Me, it's about Him.
Thanks for your encouragement. :)

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Laurie Collett link
7/5/2012 12:31:44 pm

Great post, Laura! I once heard that Renaissance painters used to paint fruit that was slightly overripe, flowers withering, etc., to reference this very idea. I don't have to try very hard to be imperfect -- plenty of messes and unfinished projects around here!
God bless,
Laurie

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Joe Pote link
7/5/2012 02:01:13 pm

Oh, believe me, there's no reason to embrace intentional imperfection in my life...I've got plenty of imperfecttion to go around, already!

There was a time that I had strong perfectionist tendencies...those went out the window, several years ago, when I realized it just wasn't going to happen. Better to be productive than perfect...

I love your message of "Enjoying Jesus as He walks with me thru the process!"

Glad to hear you are home and safe. You've had quite an adventure the last couple of weeks!

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Rina Peru link
7/5/2012 07:56:46 pm

Interesting topic. I am a perfectionist and it's a pain. Why? Because I get so frustrated with mistakes, delays, slow pace, mess, etc. But Jesus made me see that this is actually my flaw. I am flawed, I am weak, I make mistakes, and I fail. Thank God I have a PERFECT Savior!

Love your photos, btw. :D

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Jenni Mullinix link
7/5/2012 09:20:55 pm

Wise words, friend. It can be difficult not to allow perfectionism to rule our lives. I'm so thankful we have a Savior to cover our mistakes and make "all things work together for good."

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Debra Huffaker link
7/5/2012 09:37:09 pm

Hi, Ms. Laura!!! That could very well be a picture of our own GRANDsons....they're little rascals, too!! HOPE you have a great weekend!!!

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JoAnne Potter link
7/5/2012 11:21:28 pm

Forwarded this is someone dear to me who is struggling with the concept of unearned grace...thanks for encouraging her.

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Becca
7/6/2012 01:17:08 am

Thanks for hosting

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Angi link
7/6/2012 03:44:39 am

Bahahaha! I love those stinker boys! Those pictures are just what I think of when I picture your family. You guys are real and not afraid to show it. You let Jesus fill in the gaps of your imperfection. You guys are the best.

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Shannon Milholland link
7/6/2012 03:46:35 am

"God's perfections are enough to satisfy our inefficiencies." That really spoke to me!

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Wendy @ E1A link
7/6/2012 05:18:21 pm

Fab post Laura... love what you wrote, i.e.:


"...it's not the process I need to enjoy. Because sometimes the process just really stinks. It's enjoying Jesus as He walks with me through the process. I will never enjoy trying to comfort my screaming 3 year old because a biting fly got in his swim suit and bit him. No, but I can enjoy Jesus, the Comforter and Perspective Giver. "


Thank you for sharing this. Excellent point!

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Ed Ross link
7/6/2012 09:35:55 pm

Great thoughts here, Laura. Especially love the family photo illustration. I always shrink back into the reality of my imperfections when I must face photographs of myself. Whatever makes it to the wide world in Blogland has been prefaced by scads of junk pics. But, the lesson remains - and I am ever thankful that my sufficiency and perfection is in Christ and Christ alone.
Joy!
Kathy for Ed at The Sheeps Pen

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Nikki link
7/6/2012 11:01:10 pm

love the pics...yep..you guys look like a great family. Reaching out...touching lives...making a difference....I believe in that b/c that's exactly what He did for me. And Laura...love how you reach out and make a difference here in cyberspace and in your world.

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Laura Rath link
7/7/2012 09:03:10 am

Love this post Laura! This is something God has been teaching me over the past couple of years. I've always been one to live for the future..."when (blank) happens, it'll be better" type of thinking. Maybe it will be better, or maybe just different. Either way, there will always be issues because I'm not perfect and neither is life. But Jesus walks beside us everyday, no matter what's going on. If I'm always looking ahead, I'm missing today. And more than anything, I don't want to miss Jesus beside me and all He has to show and teach me.

God bless,
Laura

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Pamela J. Kuhn link
7/8/2012 11:19:53 pm

Sometimes I think my life is a poster child for imperfections. I've found that when I'm most exhausted is when Satan brings each one up to me, discouraging me in this process of life. Someday...in another place...perfection will be achieved--when I'm welcomed into the joy of Heaven. I'm always blessed by reading your words.

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Val link
7/9/2012 12:13:36 am

Great blog post and reminder that God is perfect! When the world sometimes feels like it is moving one step faster than we can, we need to remember that God is there with us now, tomorrow and forever. Thanks for sharing! Plus I love the photos!

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Christina link
7/10/2012 05:57:09 am

I love this, "God's perfection is enough to satisfy our inefficiencies. Why not delight in that?" Just what I needed to think about. Thanks so much for this encouragement. Blessings to you!

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Charlotte link
7/17/2012 02:33:37 am

Life is hard for perfectionists because most of the time perfection is unattainable. I like what Christina said in her comment above. God is perfect, so we don't need to be. Thank you for sharing with us on Spiritual Sundays.
Blessings,
Charlotte

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