I like my world to be programmed and planned.
I like to have schedules and files in hand.
I know where I’m headed, my purpose is clear.
Don’t mess with perfection when Judy is here.
For some people perfection is about productivity
For others it’s just a part of their personality.
I could wrap up my reason with a nice little bow
and tell you that it’s because I want all to know
of a God who works perfectly without pause of defect
and that I’m planning my programs so that you would see His effects.
I could try and convince you that’s why I’m striving for perfection.
I could twist the truth and reinforce the connection.
I could quote chapter and verse of God using master craftsmen.
I could lie and tell you that my perfection is not an addiction.
But that would be only partially true.
The other piece of the puzzle is that I like to perform for you.
It makes me feel safe to avoid all critique.
So I program and polish so there will be no mistake.
This pastor of yours wasn’t always so prideful.
But when praise got attached to performance it’s hard not be mindful.
When payment became attached to the praise,
the perfect performance was what I wanted on stage.
Now let me speak words that are perfectly clear.
Let me speak clearly so that your employers can hear.
It is good to want a perfect performance.
It is not wrong to pursue such excellence.
Polishing up a project is how we get paid.
Doing a job well is how a resume is made.
The problem is when we begin to believe
Putting our faith into action requires we leave
Imperfections behind and have no awkward pauses,
When just perfect people find themselves working for God’s causes.
Perhaps as a pastor I’ve upheld this perception.
Do I do that when my programs seek out such perfection?
Have I led you to believe that faith is seamless and polished?
Have you learned that God wants the imperfect abolished?
Listening to perfectly poised people with impeccable speech
Do you now believe that a life of faith is out of reach?
If that is the case then let me repent
for that is a lie and not a life well spent.
For performance and perfection can often impede
putting our faith into action in the way the world needs.
Putting our faith into action is a part we all play,
not when it’s programmed but throughout the whole day.
We don’t need to be perfect or have it all planned.
We just need to perceive when God says to lend a hand.
The moment might be messy that’s perfectly fine,
it might happen in the margins not at a planned time.
Sometimes it feels pointless for not all people will praise you
but that’s not the point there’s a God who will raise you.
If you will follow the impulse to pray, praise and proclaim
If you will reach out to the person who is blind, poor or lame
If you open the door for the one you don’t know
If you open your wallet for their need they will know
That God works through his people in perfectly good ways
Whether they stutter or pause or have program delays.
May God use his imperfect people this day.
In perfectly messy ways this I pray.
So that all the imperfect and struggling people around
Would know of a God who still uses those who imperfections abound.
