Imperfecto

Since moving to work full-time at Source of Light headquarters, a significant part of my initial training in the Publications Department included working with the various machines used in the printing process, not only to become comfortable operating them but also to learn basic troubleshooting for occasional issues or needed corrections. Part of this was to “catch” repeatedly for our big King press. Notice I did not say “use” or “run” the press - it would take months of focused training or even a lifelong career as a pressman to become proficient at that. Rather, catching in this case involves simply taking booklets off the line, making sure they are stacked straight (called “jogging” in the industry - notice how well I’ve done picking up terminology), and placing them neatly into a bin (or “cage”) to be processed further in future. I found this to be more taxing than I expected, not necessarily the physical aspect needed to perform the task but rather the mental focus to remember the steps under pressure. Once on your own, you’ll have a nice pile of mess if you can’t keep up. And due to the veiled dampness of the product, the slightest wrinkle or crease could ripple into much bigger problems or literally jam up whole processes down the line on other machines.

The truth is, no matter how much of a bright and shining rookie star you may be, the “new guy” is bound to stumble, and it is not personal but rather prudent to go behind him to double check his work and question any “problems” he may encounter. This is part of the human condition. Even the best man is only human. We all make mistakes. To use an older term: we “err” and are naturally, pervasively, and hopelessly “errant.” I often experienced this keenly as the most minimal delay or smallest missed step could cause myself a backup that was hard to overcome. It was at one of these moments, near the end of the day when weariness was approaching and humanness becoming more obvious, when something ironically profound caught my attention. The booklet currently coming off was a Spanish lesson, but the English translation is easily apparent. The page facing me had near the bottom an illustration of a random man walking with the word “IMPERFECTO” written across him. That sure was the truth, and I was feeling it. Thanks for that concise coaching about my work. Later translation showed that underneath read, “My walk . . . the way I live on earth.” In stark contrast, the next column had a picture that was to portray the Lord Jesus and the man standing just below with the phrase “¡Perfecto!” overhead and the caption: “My position . . . the way God sees me in Christ.” So you see how even rote and repetitive tasks at Source of Light become the means of personal discipleship! 

What an acute reminder that regardless of my human weakness, whether seemingly small missteps or maybe a colossal failure, that my Savior is not only with me but is also strong for me. He makes up for my lack. Better yet, He not only enables my effort but also guarantees it will be successful. God is working in us both to will and to work (Philippians 2:13) and will perform what He has begun (Philippians 1:6). So as I live for Him and try with all my spiritual imperfections, His brilliant perfection is emblazoned across my life. As a result, any success that I experience or good that I possess is nothing more than another display of His greatness, another occasion to point to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). Next time you make another "woops," whether big or small, remember that God is right next you, ready to help you catch, catch up, or catch you! Take at least a moment to pray for His help, focus on just the next best and right thing He tells you to do, and praise Him for getting you through. Perfectly. Imperfecto, anyone? Stand strong in the Lord!