Seeking For Perfection In Things

Man has a tendency to compensate and even over-compensate for his shortcomings.  He does that not by focusing on his own defects but in the defects of things he treasures.

Brand new things made by machines come to the marketplace without nicks, scratches and dents.  To keep them in mint condition, a lot dedication goes into caring for them meticulously.  Over time, they remain static as things, even if they appear clean and new, they will look dated compared to the latest models and become obsolete as technology advances.

The question then is whether one ought to fuss over imperfections in things caused by mistakes and carelessness, thereby marring their appearances.  Granted that sometimes damaged surfaces can be unsightly but should that cause one continual frustration?  Of course, some damages can be repaired, or the part that is damaged can be replaced or the whole thing can be discarded.

When cost is not an issue, going to extremes to have perfection in things can make one happy. The observation here is not so much that satisfaction or happiness can be achieved but that flawlessness is possible.

Imagine for a moment the imperfect man owning something perfect.  That is quite an achievement.  If there is any pride that goes with possessing something perfect, that pride is misplaced.

One needs to ask what is more important: one's character or one's possessions?  For someone who defines himself based on his assets would say possessions for he believes that he would be a nobody and society would treat him as a nobody if he owned nothing.  For someone who places more value on humility and the teachings of Christ than on tangible assets would say his character, even though his character is flawed.

Judging character is difficult but it is easy and fast to judge a man by what he wears.  This is captured by the German saying "Kleider machen Leuten" ("clothes makes the man"). Kleider machen Leuten is true throughout the world. The one judging always believes that the judgment is right otherwise there is no need to judge.  Judging is the norm. People judge other people all the time: those they know and those they do not know.  People also have a tendency to compensate for their own defects.  When they are unable to, they can seek perfection in things, thinking that by wearing or owning things that are perfect that they would somehow be seen as perfect.

No human is perfect except for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and only through Her, not by having things that are perfect, will one have a chance of being cured of one's flaws. [1]




[1] One ought to be able to have things that are perfect if that makes one happy so long as it is reasonable and so long as the pursuit of nice things do not replace one's love for and time with God.