Effortless Perfection

Andrew and I are involved in a couple's lifegroup at church that has been wonderful this semester! The women and men meet on alternating weeks (therefore you don't have to worry about childcare), and then we have family get-togethers once a month with spouses and children. We study the same material, so that way we can talk about it together at home. It probably is the best set-up I have ever been apart of in terms of couple bible studies.

I have really grown to love "my" Monday nights, as I feel the women have really invested in one another. I can't remember exactly what we were discussing this particular night, but along the lines of "passive righteousness", when something prompted one of the women to bring up a study that is being conducted at Duke right now. In today's world, there is huge pressure for women to present a perfect, all-together life; but with seemingly little to no effort at all. Researchers at Duke are literally studying this idea of "effortless perfection" with the undergrad population at the University. Wham... I think it hit us all in the face. How easily I fall into this mindset, and why? We all know its a facade. Life is hard. Healthy relationships; whether it be spiritual, marital, or parental in nature take effort. It's ok to acknowledge that. Do we need to sit around and bemoan every little thing that happens to us or by us... no. But oh how our lives would be so much more rich with a little transparency.

I think for me, this idea of "effortless perfection" has more implications than just wanting to be more "real" with the people around me. I think it shows a more serious problem of trying to gain or earn my righteousness from God and people (wrongly so, but true),with the things I'm doing and how well I'm doing them. The thing is, he of all people (or deity I guess... that figure of speech doesn't really work here! ha),knows the truth. He knows my house only gets picked up when people are coming over, my bathrooms get cleaned when I finally remember they need to be, I am less patient and less agreeable sometimes at home than in public, my kids don't always act in a way "I" think is proper, etc. Why do we crave this appearance of "all-togetherness?" I can almost promise you, that though our "junk" might look different, we are all carrying "junk" of some kind.

The night ended on a good note though, when one of the ladies laughingly brought us back to our thoughts on "passive righteousness." In reality, we do have effortless perfection. The righteousness of Christ that is passed on to us as believers, has NOTHING to do with us or our efforts, and is completely and utterly perfect! I am praying to stand more in the truth of God's "effortless perfection" than my own each day. I also pray this over Ceilidh even now, that she might avoid some of the struggles I encounter if I freely talk with her about these things. My first admission of many imperfections: though the joys are immeasurable, the burdens of parenthood are great. Even at two, I am worried about her adult life! ha