From My Grandfather’s Blessings by Rachel Remen:
“The marks life leaves on everything it touches transforms perfection into wholeness.” Rachel Remen
I recently bought a new pair of shoes, the same brand, style, and size (but a different color) as a pair I have had for years. (I am not particularly imaginative when it comes to clothing.) The new shoes of course look perfect coming out of the box, just like the ones in the advertisement for them – a perfect finish with no lines or creases in the leather. They looked much better than the years old pair I have. However, on putting the new shoes on it quickly became obvious that the fit on this new pair was quite different from the comfortable, time-worn fit of the older pair. The new pair was stiff, they squeaked when I walked, they resisted movement in a way that chafed my feet. Only now, after several months of wear, after a scuff here or there, after some lines appeared where the leather “gives” as I walk, have the “new” shoes become comfortable. Thankfully, the squeaking has stopped.
But back to this distinction between “perfection” and “wholeness” that Remen is referring to. It occurs to me that it is easy to confuse “perfection” with “wholeness,” in large part because we are bombarded with the promise of “perfection” if only we buy and use this product or participate (for a fee) in this or that effort.
Indeed, life leaves marks on everything it touches. Stuff happens. And when it happens to me I squeak, I resist change, I chafe. But it is the push here, the pull there that can, if allowed to, transforms me so that, while not perfect, I become whole.
It occurs to me... 