Toward a Less Anxious Presence (part 3)

Need to be seen as perfect? Our need to be “perfect” or at least to be seen as without serious issues, can be a cause of anxiety. Most of us spend a lot of energy and worry trying to keep up our persona. Persona is our public image. Our self-image and/or the way we want others to ‘see’ us is being threatened especially if we think others might not think as highly of us as we think of ourselves. Jesus instructed us to be perfect, (Matthew 5:48.) Be careful because his instruction came towards the close of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus has said we are to practice the beatitudes; keep the Law; don't get angry; have no lust; keep all of our vows; have no desire for revenge and love all our enemies. That's a high standard of being perfect. Even Paul wrote that he wasn't perfect, "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect…" (Philippians 3:12, KJV). Other translations have translated that word "perfect" as "reached the goal" (NRSV), "obtained" (NASV). I like THE MESSAGE paraphrase of the Philippians verse by Eugene Peterson, "I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out to me." Peterson even paraphrases the word "perfect" in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount as "Grow up." Seems like our goal is to accept ourselves for who we are at present and know that we're still a "work-in-process" or we're still "growing up" and if that's good enough for God, then it is good enough.