Here are two great quotes from Philip Yancey. He wrote them in reference to the church, but they are very relevant to perfectionism as well. (Both from Yancey, Philip, 1998. Church: Why Bother?)
The composer Igor Stravinsky once wrote a new piece that contained a difficult violin passage. After several weeks of rehearsal the solo violinist came to Stravinsky and said that he could not play it. He had given it his best effort but found the passage too difficult, even unplayable. Stravinsky replied, ‘I understand that. What I am after is the sound of someone trying to play it.’ Perhaps something similar is what God had in mind for the church. (99)
And
When the Milpitas High School orchestra attempts Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the result is appalling’, said Palmer [a local pastor]. "I wouldn’t be surprised if the performance made old Ludwig roll over in his grave despite his deafness. You might ask, 'Why bother?' Why inflict on those poor kids the terrible burden of trying to render what the immortal Beethoven had in mind? Not even the great Chicago Symphony Orchestra can attain that perfection. My answer is this: The Milpitas High School orchestra will give some people in that audience their only encounter with Beethoven’s great Ninth Symphony. Far from perfection, it is nevertheless the only way they will hear Beethoven’s message." I remind myself of Earl Palmer’s analogy whenever I start squirming in a church service. (99–100)
These two quotations make so much sense. If perfection is the only way, then there is no point in attempting anything: no point in road-running,unless you win every race; no point in my MA (I didn’t get a 100% CGA); no point in my Greek course (I didn’t get 100%); no point in doing anything for God (only He can do it perfectly).
NO POINT IN A LIFE THAT’S
NOT PERFECT?
In truth, perfection is impossible for God’s fallen creatures. So, I guess that we must be content to strive for near-perfection, but forgive ourselves for under-achieving. Perfectionism, fundamentally, is pride, which is a sin. However, I don’t want an acceptance of less-than-perfect to become an excuse for poor workmanship. I must strive to do the best that I can, but I must learn to forgive myself.
Someone once said: “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well”.
Someone else replied: “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly”.
Sure, this is hyperbole, but, again, it is not an excuse for being slovenly. A job is not worth doing only if it has to be done perfectly; our best effort is also acceptable. After all, the David might be Michelangelo’s best effort, but it’s not perfect.