Whatever you do, do you work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. – Colossians 3:23-4 (NASB)
The words “sloppy” and “good enough” don’t sit well with me. They are not a part of my work ethic, nor are they to what I’m called. I’m called to excellence, to doing my work heartily.
Even so, the two phrases have been leveled against my work. They should be. The words are just and true. My writing has not been up to its usual standard. I’ve excused it as being the result of a writing slump, but excuses will not do.
I need to take a long, hard look at myself and consider where I went wrong. When did I become complacent? How did I become content with excuses and rationalizations? I know better. I expect better.
The phrases sting, but they are a necessary wounding. They are the kind that bring healing and growth. The danger, for me anyway, is that I won’t allow healing or growth to occur. I’ll let perfectionism hold court. It’ll whisper dark, dangerous things in my ear. It will keep me in the discouragement and self-loathing. It will gnaw at my confidence until every piece I write quakes in fear or rises only to falter back to earth.
That, too, will not do. I am not called to walk in fear or to sit on the sidelines. I’m called to fight and to not lose heart in doing good – even if it’s the good of writing a white paper or blog post.
That is the life to which I’m called, so, perfectionism and “good enough,” watch out. I’m about to reenter the ring, and I haven’t even yet begun to fight.
Image: Craig Sunter (Creative Commons)