Disecting perfection

A response to a comment on my recent perfection post:

First off, the post below was something I wrote on the front of my wife's birthday card just a few days ago. It came out of a theme I wanted to get across to her, it being her 27th birthday, and I wanted to impress upon her that to me she was perfect (7 often being a symbol of perfection).

Now obviously I wasn't trying to dupe her into believing she's perfect physically or spiritually or any such unattainable state that would be untrue of any human being. But what I was intending to say, and what came out of that expression, was a truth of perfection in my mind ... or perhaps a different definition of perfection.

God calls us to be perfect. But what does that mean? When we say 'nobody's perfect', what are we saying? Well, I suppose we're saying, no one is God. No one person ever makes a perfectly right choice every time. And no one has flawless character, like God. But I don't think perfect, from God's perspective has anything to do with the outward appearance, though that is a word we've used to describe many physical attributes (workmanship done with hands, the absence of mistakes or flaws, what most people subjectively believe to be beautiful). What I was attempting to say to my wife Kari, was that God's choice for her as my wife was 'perfect'. And I'm not some relationship guru who has it all figured out ... but somehow in the circumstance of our marriage, God's perfectness was a part of what happened. Perhaps because HE was, we see, the prime reason we have each other. There is perfection within our own circumstances.

And then in the indwelling of God within us, one of the greatest mysteries ever, there is perfection then in all of us, living and striving with us to produce in us, through life, godly perfection. Not pharisitical aloofness. Not hierarchical religious pompousness. Not any order created by man. Purely and simply, God's character lived out by God Himself through us. A mystery I love because of its overreaching implications on my person and all those around me. I am forever changed and changing to become the person God intended me to be.

Then of course, we have Jesus Christ. Who is described as even kind of ugly physically, and yet we consider to have lived a perfect life. So then, what does that mean ... ?

Perfection

Perhaps perfection has little to do with the quality of our actions

Perhaps perfection has more to do with the quality of God's choices and His workmanship in us.

New pics and new home

Well, it takes a long time to upload photos, so I'm doing them a few at a time. But anyway, we're well and healthy, if a little stressed from all the changes in our lives of late. The people of Hope, especially our good friends, have been absolutely fantastic in helping us move and get settled in. So, we're into our new (giant) home, though it's only partially finished renovations, and, as my boss says, I'm jumping in head first into my job, which I'm enjoying. Griffin is 28 inches long and 17 lbs at 4 months. Today he laughed for an extended period of time, jumped in the jolly jumper for the first time and I played some sweet music on the guitar which he loved. Lots has happened in a little while but we're well.

On the move

After nearly two years in the town of Hope, Kari, Griffin and I are now moving to a new location just 10 minutes up the #1 Hwy to Camp Squeah where we will live in a newly renovated house. It's a large house, full of rooms for guests and visitors. We're still not far from Hope and if you're thinking you'd like to come and visit on your way through, please stop in!

We have grown to love this little town of highways, mountains, rivers and lakes. And now I'm walking into a new community with people with a history of Mennonite heritage, and a camp that has been in active service since 1961.

The Paddle-a-thon, by the way, was a great success. Weather was good, the river was high (which allowed us to avoid a number of difficult passages on the river), no one ended up in the river and we enjoyed each other as we paddled along. There were 17 paddlers and 18 fund-raisers and together more than $48,000.00 were raised to support volunteer student summer staff! Fantastic! Now we're looking to fill these positions and serve and love the young people that come to enjoy people and place of Camp Squeah.

With the move happening in a couple of days I'm not sure when next I'll be on to post on this blog. We'll be living in a remote area and connection speed is slower, but as soon as I can, I'll let you know how we're doing.

Bon voyage!

Paddle-a-thon 2007!

Now as the new Program Director for Camp Squeah, I'm leaping right into Squeah's annual fund-raiser.

Our goal: raise enough funds to support our mature young leaders who volunteer at camp all summer to serve and love children who are afterwards attending post secondary education.

My offer to you: consider helping us to love and support these young people who give of themselves for others by pledging me funds as I paddle down the Fraser River next weekend! From Saturday until Sunday, from Hope to Fort Langley I'll be paddling with many others. If you'd like to do this, please e-mail me at camp: tim@squeah.com or phone me (604) 869 5353.