Previously, I posted about living from the inside-out, from
our inner, benign spiritual core out to the surface. Living this way is in line
with the New Testament injunction to “be ye perfect, even as your Father in
Heaven is perfect.” In other words, as
we feel the perfection of our spiritual core within, which is perfect, we in
turn can be perfect and act in a way consistent with the inclusive compassion
of spirit.
Though this concept is meant to empower and soothe us, it
usually has the opposite effect. We feel tremendous emotional pain and
self-judgment for not living up to the ideal of being perfect and without a
flaw. “What? Me, perfect? No way! I’m lucky if I can do a few kind and descent
things once in a while.” Right?
Well, here’s some good news! The problem is not our lack of
perfection, but our definition of perfection.
The Greek word used in Matthew for ‘perfect’ is also translated as
“complete” or “whole.” In other words, we are not asked to be perfect, but to
be complete and whole, to use all of our energies—spiritual, emotional, mental
and physical; and we can do that, in fact, do, do that. We are just being enjoined to use the inner
spiritual more than we do.
Also, Jesus was a reformer and when he spoke of being whole
and complete, he was encouraging his people to be more inclusive and let go of
limited, cultural, and tribalistic thinking. He was encouraging people to think
holistically, to use all their energies, especially the spiritual; to be
complete (not limited) in your thinking, even as your Father (First Cause
within) in Heaven (Consciousness) is whole, complete and inclusive in Its
nature.
Whole, complete: both left and right, not either one or the
other, but both—where would you be with just one arm? Both Republican and
Democrat, not one or the other, but both. Sure we have to choose when voting,
but even then, we can choose from our spiritual core the party that is most
inclusive, compassionate and centered.
Perfectionism is not a virtue, but wholeness is. Seeing with
the eyes of wholeness and inclusion changes everything. From there we are able
to live awakened, empowered and joyous lives, and make our own unique
contributions to a world that works for everyone and everything.
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