THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, March 14, 2024

Lord, I listened. I really did. We attended the 9:00 Sunday morning service. I chuckled quietly while our pastor confessed he was a “recovering perfectionist.” I’ve known perfectionist. Worked with many. Oh! How they can be trying to ordinary folks just wanting to get through the day without any drama.

I serve as an usher during the 11:00 service and every week I reserve a row of chairs for a group of ladies. These “angels” live in an adult special needs home and love to come to church. Kudos to their director, Jenny, for faithfully bringing them every Sunday.

After placing the “Reserved” cards in the chairs, your Spirit spoke to my inner man. “Did you not pay attention to pastor’s message?”

“Of course, I did. He is a recovering perfectionist. Why do you ask, Lord?”

“Look at the row you just reserved. What do you see?”

I focused on the row, and after a few seconds, shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t see anything. Looks perfect to me.” Then the Holy Spirit turned on the light bulb in my head. How did I miss that? Each card lay in the center of the chair, squared to align with the chair’s edges to ensure the card was symmetrical with the seat. All were in perfect order. Trained technicians using a straightedge would certify their perfect alignment.

“Pastor might be a recovering perfectionist, but you aren’t.”

Sometimes God’s Spirit gets blunt with me.

“It’s good you have order in your life, but I want you to be perfect in your spirit, that your spirit is properly aligned with my Spirit. Ordering your life according to my Word will accomplish more than you can imagine for my Kingdom. Besides, the worshippers didn’t notice, nor do they care, about your card-squaring obsession.”

Lord, only you can make my perfection be your perfection (Matthew 5:48). Amen, Jesus.