Perfect

 We live in a society that is focused on perfection - either a person is a perfectionist or they shun perfectionism. Our definition of perfection is toxic and painful and harmful.

In Hebrew, where we read that Abraham was commanded to be perfect, or that Noah was a “perfect man in his generation” the word “perfect” means something different than our modern definition of that word. When reading in Hebrew, you have to take each word one letter at a time because each letter is so full of meaning.

After studying that word for a very long time, I began to see it form into something different than I expected. I had often heard people refer to the number “7” in Hebrew as the definition of perfect - meaning whole and complete. But even this misses the mark. It is only a portion of the definition and it gives the wrong impression of the word.

The word “perfect” is hard to articulate, because I don’t know if you understand each word I use in the way I use it or if you are defining it differently than I am. So bear with me in my tedium for a moment as I give you the definitions of my words.

Parts - a myriad of pieces. For instance, you have many parts to your eyeball. There are nerves, blood vessels, several different kinds of tissue, gels and liquids, and other things. All of these are parts of what we call the eyeball. 

Awareness - conscious and purposeful with intent. One is aware when one knows the motives behind their words, actions, thoughts, etc. An aware state is one in which we do nothing as a reaction but all things are done with intent and on purpose. Awareness enables choice; enables me to be an agent who acts rather than an object which is acted upon.

Make up - the way in which “parts” (as defined above) come together to create a thing. The make up of the eyeball would be a blueprint on all the parts of the eyeball, how they function and how they are held together.

Whole - all-encompassing, leaving not a single “part” behind or unnoticed.

So then, with those definitions, I have learned to define perfection as “An awareness of all of the parts that make up the whole.”

Someone who is perfect is aware and is intentional. They see all of themselves - what another person looking at them might define as good or bad or ugly or pretty. The perfect person is as familiar with their darkness as they are with their light. They do not hide from it nor try to hide it.

Nowhere in the word do I find evidence that all of those parts must be functioning properly. Only that there is awareness of them. So perfection is to see clearly. To see your heart, your motives, your definitions, your own blinders and baggage. To see that they are there and to not be reactionary in any thing, but to choose. And you are able to choose because you are aware that there is a choice because you see all of you, honestly and openly. You are aware when your baggage is being triggered and it helps you to see more clearly and to move outside of your baggage into a more healthy state.

So “be ye perfect, even as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect” can take on a whole new meaning as you ponder on this definition. It teaches us more about the nature of God and His desires for His children.

See yourself. Without shame. Without blame. Without hiding. Without judgment. Just observe yourself. Observe your desires to react. And then choose.

This is a life-long process of learning to be aware. Learning to “awake and arise” our faculties to be able to live life on purpose rather than as a reaction to each moment. Choose your life. Choose by becoming aware, without shame or blame or judgment or guilt or any other ungodly thing. Just see yourself. Just see others. 

Practice this, day in and day out, as often as you can for as long as you can. And perhaps we will be able to say one day that we have obtained perfection...which is to see ourselves clearly - without judgment or blame or excuse or hiding or shame - and then to choose our lives consciously.