“It is the very definition of allowing perfect to be the enemy of good.”

“I think when you sing about love, you’re singing about every love you’ve ever had. Not just always about one person.”

Two soundbites from the BBC news website this morning. The first from a piece about the introduction (or the delayed introduction) of driver-less vehicles. The second from an interview with Sam Smith talking about his album release.

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“It is the very definition of allowing perfect to be the enemy of good.”

How often do we “need” to be in control? Of our lives and “the minutiae” each day, of our goals and objectives and “charting progress”, of our relationships and the “need” to be perfect for each other.

We argue about God whilst becoming the worst “god” we could ever create. And then blame “god” for not being the (worst) “god” we think “god” should be. In control of “the minutiae”, and making sure we achieve our goals, and bringing only people who are perfect for us into our lives. The God I know is not an egocentric. None of us think we are.

As we insist the universe must fall into line so that we don’t have to suffer “another one of those days!”

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“I think when you sing about love, you’re singing about every love you’ve ever had. Not just always about one person.”

Is a really neat observation on how we each go about life, I think.  How we each add another strip of wallpaper to the one below – and another – and another – and another. Our interior decoration layers-of-memories and layers-of-living fused into the present version.  Except the present version is infused with the previous versions.

And when I tell you that “???” really ticks me off, all my infused living of being ticked off by others is in that statement somewhere.  Just as when I tell you I love that little “???” you do – all my infused living is in that as well.

I knew someone who was dumped painfully, and who surrounded themselves for years afterwards with a fleet of temporary partners so that if one “relationship” ended, there were always others still present and correct: “And I was never alone.”

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Allowing perfect to be the enemy of good.

Every love you’ve ever had.

Right now this very second there are people reading these words, stressing about the egocentric “minutiae” of the day, charting their performance goals and objectives, seeking the you must change I will not “perfect relationship”. The very same people who know they will get around to saying:  “I love you, I always have, I will miss you so much when you/I are/am gone.”

(but not just yet: things to do – people to see – and all that)

And today – and tomorrow and the day after that – many will find that they got the timing wrong.  That they never will/did get the chance to say/hear those words.  And they will have to live with that for the rest of their lives.

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I have learned that “perfect” is irrelevant.  I have learned that “perfect” is not a cross to bear (of religion or anything else).  Because “perfect” is my arrogance – there is no one else to blame: It is my arrogance.

Why?

Because everyone else has to suffer me “Getting things just right” … everyone else has to give me their heartbeats of living while I tell them “A fraction that way – a fraction this – no too much … “  For what?

So you (it always has to be you) will tell me: “WOW!  It’s perfect!”

(or should that be: “WOW – You are perfect” … ?)

I like a God who is messy … who is of restraint … who is of choice … who doesn’t pull every last detail of wallpaper before adding another strip …  A God who is out of “control” … a God who has no need for “control” …

Because that is what I really like about myself (no “god” required) – when I allow.

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