NOTE: For Sunday I’m reposting this “column” from yesterday; I really think it’s an important concept for those of us committed to a life of faith. If you want to see all the pictures, just go back to Saturday’s version – “Beautiful Imperfection.” – DEREK

Beautiful Imperfection:

I’m exploring an idea that penetrates all the way – I believe – to the core of who we are as redeemed people. It involves most of my favorite “r”-words; you know the ones I mean: redemption, reconciliation, restoration, renewal, renovation, reinvention… and more.

But the idea itself isn’t in that list. It’s “imperfection;” and, more specifically, the idea that imperfection can be a beautiful thing.

THE STORY: So the story starts a few days ago, when I motored down to the Mosaic Tile Company showroom in Raleigh to pick up six (heavy) boxes of the tile Rebekah has picked out for our backsplash in the new kitchen.

I bring the tile home, put five boxes in the garage, and haul one into the kitchen.

“This is the wrong tile,” Rebekah said.

“What’s wrong with it?” I replied.

“Nothing,” Rebekah shot back.

“What?” I queried.

“That’s the problem,” she explained; “I don’t see any flaws.”

Seriously. Rebekah had chosen the particular tile exactly because each one had one – or more – unique flaw.

So we took the tile back. “This is unusual,” our very helpful consultant said, looking at us quizzically. “People typically come in to complain that the tile is NOT perfect. These are handmade, in Revanna, Italy, imperfections are a natural part of the process.”

“That’s right,” Rebekah said. “There’s a lot of great theology in these tiles.”

PART TWO: Because the kitchen will include so many sleek, finely finished, surfaces, Rebekah has allowed space so she can build some hand-made shelving. Nicely planed wood, even and smooth, with flat surfaces and narrow tolerances will not fit the bill.

So we headed out to the small, rural, community of Bunn to visit some church members who live on an old farm. Jane and Randy have been tearing down old buildings and salvaging what they can.

“Now this is some wood with a story!” Rebekah said (she get’s quite excited about this sort of thing).

So we visited, we shared some great stories, we foraged among the salvaged boards, and Rebekah found exactly what she was looking for.

PART THREE: I couldn’t help but think about the community of faith where we worship. Wake Forest Presbyterian is a beautifully imperfect church.

Now this is where all those “r”-words have the opportunity to come in. The redemption, the resurrection, the renewal, the restoration, the renovation, the reconciliation, and – most of all – the constant reinvention.

We are a collection of around 800 flawed disciples, all moving – at various speeds – into a life of deeper faith and more Christlike graces. And, along the way, we get healed.

Sometimes we get healed and a scar remains; sometimes we carry our imperfections for years before we’re ready for God to deal with a particular area; most often we simply limp along and do our best, humbly submitting ourselves to the guiding, correcting, healing hand of God.

One thing we know without a doubt is that we will always be flawed – at least so long as we are on this particular part of our journey. But we are loved, we are nurtured, we are encouraged, and we provide this collective witness that is beautiful; it’s beautiful because it is so authentic, and it is so real.

WFPC provides this collective witness that is beautiful; it’s beautiful because it is so authentic, and it is so real.

Enjoy the story of our search for beautiful imperfection; then join us in church to celebrate the journey that we’re all taking, together.

Peace – DEREK