Embracing An Imperfect Life
“Wisdom makes one’s face shine, and the hardness of one’s countenance is changed.”
In our present society, which worships at the foot of youthfulness, writer Tim Denning comes to terms with advancing age and affirms the blessing of lessons learned. In this article, “The Incredibly Harsh Lessons You Learn with Age,” Denning shares some of his learnings. It resonated with me, and I believe we should all affirm the wisdom that only age and experience can provide.
Denning affirms, “Nothing is ever ‘done.’ He recommends, “Learn to be satisfied with good enough for now, and you’ll avoid the trap of perfection which you can’t humanly achieve. Ever.” Waiting to be happy, or even to relax, until you’ve done everything, will leave us unhappy the rest of our lives. Stop long enough to appreciate the situations and people around you.
Next, Denning believes, “Success increases with your ability to be vulnerable.” Denning confirms, “It’s when you reach a level in life that you become okay (not comfortable) with being vulnerable that you start to unlock selflessness.” Vulnerability is Biblical, with many passages affirming vulnerability as a way to offer oneself to God. It remains one of the most challenging aspects of the faith. Thankfully, feeling out of control is often uncomfortable, but there is also something uncomfortable about always having to be in control and successful.
Denning continues, “There is always another struggle coming next.” In this imperfect world, we are never at peace, at rest, or without discomfort. That is why we must become comfortable with vulnerability. Our need to address our discomfort leads to Denning’s next assertion, “You always have more to learn.” When we stop learning, we stop trying, and when we stop trying, life is over. We experience joy in new challenges and new thoughts. Just remember, learning is worth the struggle for all of us. Recognizing and accepting our vulnerability is a necessary aspect of learning.
Today, take time to prayerfully consider how we are uncomfortable with never being done, being vulnerable, and facing an unknown future. The more we can reflect on the wisdom learned, the more we can recognize God’s Spirit at work within us. I believe each of us will affirm our deeper sense of maturity with each new wrinkle. God’s Spirit will provide the courage to face tomorrow’s uncertainty with faith, hope, and love.
