Thursday, November 19, 2009

Embracing My Imperfections

I was taught long ago to "embrace my imperfections". I have struggled with perfectionism, and have worked hard to accept my best effort. I still believe that "if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well", but I don't berate myself over my mistakes so much anymore.

Good thing, too! I keep finding situations that arise - especially in my interpreting world - that allow me to once again, embrace my imperfections. In years past, I would have quit. "If I can't do it "right", I won't do it", I would have said, totally disregarding the fact that I am still learning.

Today, I laugh.... embarrassed and praying the floor would fall out beneath my feet, or the time would come for Him to return and take me home. Yes, I still sometimes wish I had gotten it "right", but the old tapes that attacked the core of my being have been silenced.

Two Sundays ago, I talked about us not needing fancy bodies to worship God. This past week, I inserted my name-sign in place of Luke's. Luke, the physician became Linda, the nurse.

I've taken a ribbing about "The Gospel of Linda", this past week, and I am grateful for the people that are patient with me and willing to teach me and correct me.

I am also grateful for the women who, day after day, week after week, challenged me lovingly about my humanity. My imperfection. They encouraged me to show up and be "real" - mistakes and all. They showered me with love and grace until I could allow myself the same.

So here's to an imperfect day as a human woman, stumbling around within the perfect plan that is God's....

May we be blessed!


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