I read in a novel about an old carpenter who, in his craft, never used a ruler or tape measure. He figured that if he were to use a measuring instrument, he might actually come close to perfection. He further determined that perfection should be reserved only for God and that for mere human beings, “purt near” was good enough.
I find that philosophy particularly refreshing as it takes so much of the pressure off of those of us who seek to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. We are, after all, fallen creatures, are we not? What does God expect of us anyway? Perhaps the old carpenter is right…”purt near” may be all that we should shoot for after all. Or maybe not. If I aim at only “purt near,” won’t I end up with something even less? Let me explain…
In my experience, I have found that even when I strive for absolute perfection, I end up with “purt near.” For example… over the last week or so I have been working on a picket fence for my wife. She seems bent on turning our half acre lot in town into a micro farm. Already she has created a burgeoning garden, and the picket fence is intended to enclose a strawberry patch so that bunnies and squirrels are thwarted from munching on the delectable produce. I was enlisted as “carpenter extraordinaire” for the project.
If you have ever attempted to construct a picket fence, you know that there are any number of variables with which to contend — the shape of the picket, the space between each board, the distance between posts, the irregularities of the ground, etc.. Taking all of these variables into account and submitting them to my very limited expertise as a carpenter has resulted in what my past coaches have deemed… “a good effort.” Despite my best attempts at perfection, the best I have come up with for the fence is “purt near.” It will certainly deter at least some unwanted creatures, but I don’t think that “This Old House” is going to feature my workmanship in any of their upcoming episodes!
In the Beatitudes, Jesus instructs his followers to “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).” As someone who is trying his level best to follow Jesus faithfully, I wrestle with this teaching. In my ministry as a priest, in my relationships with family and friends, in my noble attempts to be a good human being, the best I seem to be able to muster is “purt near” rather than the perfection of which Jesus speaks.
I wonder, though, if maybe that’s okay. Maybe Jesus gives us this teaching so that we will come to understand that there will always be a gap between perfection and “purt near.” The gap, of course, exists because even those who have committed themselves to the Lordship of Christ are still fallen and sinful beings. And it is precisely because of this gap that Jesus came into the world — to bridge the gap. It is solely by the grace of God in Christ Jesus that the gap between “purt near” and perfection is overcome.
So, today, I pledge to God that I will shoot for perfection in the full knowledge that what I will end up with is only “purt near.” And may the grace of our Lord Jesus make up the difference. Art+