Perfection, Shapes-Fail, & Beyond Love

     Perfectionists. We strive for an uncanny order and a controlled world. Disorder creates an inordinate and unmanageable "disturbance in the force." We avoid flustering disturbance because it feels like touching a burning hot oven, and why would anyone want to do it twice? That is the way disorder feels. Sometimes, perfection can be directed toward just one narrow area, with all other areas in total disarray.
     The overall nature of a true perfectionist differs from a flexible, risk-taking entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs might have perfectionist tendencies, but on their road to success, they generally fail, one or more times, and they try, try again. They seem to be more tolerant of temporary disorder, and they doggedly maneuver through hot stove experiences. They see beyond failure and create work-arounds. And that leads this inquiring mind to wonder:

     Can a shapes puzzle predict a 1-year-young's ability to see beyond failure? That they press on? To experiment and courageously live?

      If one had never before attempted a basic shapes puzzle, even a 5-year-old could easily ace the challenge. Finding the right hole for the circle, the square, the rectangle, the star, the heart, and the triangle would be a cinch. But, that would prove little. That 5-year-old would have missed practicing so many other important character-shaping qualities. Unlimited, intangible other skills are acquired during the process of a 1-year-old's shapes-fail.

A shapes puzzle on the notepad reinforces to an eager 1.5-year-young:
Learn by trusted observation, and try, try again
(No, the dotted leggings are not a shapes puzzle)

     Imagine the varied things a 1-year-young can safely practice and learn when working a shapes puzzle. At that age, learning-to-learn is the invaluable return. Diverse and beneficial by-product skills include:

• Comfort facing the unknown
• Hard work and willpower
• Try, try again. Failing does not equal failure
• Being flexible while cooperating with the shapes system
• Learning through trusted observation
• The intrinsic joy of accomplishment, and, 
• The obvious skill of visual recognition and acuity.

      And thinking ahead into adulthood? Going to college. Opening that new business venture (if the risk appears worth it). Learning a new skill.
   
     The values of failing and willpower remind me of a harrowing scene in the unusual and primitively-set movie, The Village. A small community of people a decade prior chose to live separate from society, isolated and free of technology and medical advancements. Everything about modern society was determined to be dangerous and unnecessary. They were frightened of its evil.
      Then, a young man in the village clan is seriously injured and needs life-saving medicine, which they do not have. The medicine can only be obtained by walking, through miles of dark woods, potentially facing ominous creatures that for a decade have haunted the villagers. The mere mention of the creatures sends shivers up and down spines and makes neck hairs stand on end.
     Who in the village volunteers to face frightening creatures as well as the ominous woods to reach civilization? Not the able-bodied, and not the teen boys. Instead, the young man's fiance. She is brave. She is bold. She is in love. And, she is physically blind. She is most vulnerable of all others in the village, yet she daily practices "shapes-fail" and going beyond.
     Though her vision fails, other keen senses take over. With walking stick in hand, she faces the unseen, solo. After a lifetime of facing daring challenges with bumps, bruises, and shapes-fail... and maybe receiving a stove burn or two... she utilizes survival work-arounds. Lacking physical sight, she successfully weaves through trees and brush. And then, being stalked, avoids and utilizes a perilous pit, facing life-threatening danger. Beyond love, she courageously lives.

On a practical note---
     Our lives are a work-around. God through his Son Jesus saved us from certain eternal death: He faced Satan, and won. He loves us...beyond. And one day we will see our Savior in Heaven. And that's not all. In "the day of salvation" He.Immensely.Helped.Us. and His help continues. We still live on this earth, and we press on, in training.

    " '...and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation..." (2 Corinthians 6).

     "Put your blinders on and run your race, and don't compare yourself to the other horses... focus on your own race and just do your best, the prize often goes to the person who tries the hardest" (Leeza Gibbons).
     We are thoroughbreds in training.

And, on a personal note--
      My most recent and basic personal training opportunity (or shapes-fail): A 10-day "home missions"-trip and its return drive. Chicago-to-homeward-bound in my car, I miss a turn on the overwhelming St. Louis bridge, at Busch Stadium heading to 44. Feeling a considerable "disturbance in the force," I fail; fill up with gas; unearth a needed laugh; and follow my GPS's work-around instructions. What's the worst that could happen? and I ask, "Was the road trip necessary? did my pregnant daughter need my assistance during her husband's lengthy business trip? Yes."
     This unconventional, selectively perfectionistic writer-who-photobombs also employs the storybomb. The Bible employs storybombs. Every day that we live and breathe, storybombs happen, and they provide tangible learning.
     I will embrace highway failure, lovable "Grands" chaos, an ever-continuing stomach bug, feline dander, a 16-inch snow blizzard's shoveling aftermath (great cardio), AND, I will laugh through it all. And, less than a month from now, face it all again, including the solo, 16-hour round-trip drive... over the harrowing St. Louis Mississippi River and through the woods... beyond love, for a special granddaughter's birth. The experiences strengthen my (aging) persistence and love muscles.
     In closing, a segue, which for me is most important: Failing.to.write.is.failure. Keep observing, and for Heaven's sake, keep on writing... God is shaping me. To see the immeasurable.
     February's road trip take-away: Beyond love, courageously living... the Voice of Heart-Truth.

The powerful play goes on, and you can contribute a verse
(Walt Whitman)