Twenty-one years after its release, MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” remains an iconic anthem. It’s a song that ignites dance floors, challenging everyone to emulate those signature moves with the aspiration of Hammer-like perfection. The song’s infectious energy and demand for flawless execution resonate with our cultural fascination with being the best, doing things perfectly.
Have you ever chased that elusive moment of perfection? Perhaps you’ve echoed Lou Reed’s sentiment, longing for a “perfect day.” Maybe you’ve searched for the perfect home, the perfect career, the ideal partner, or even strived to bake the perfect cake. We set goals for perfect exam scores, perfect game scores, the golfer’s hole-in-one – these benchmarks of flawlessness are deeply ingrained in our pursuits.
Hatrick Cricket BallAlt text: A cricket ball resting on a cricket hat-trick trophy, symbolizing a rare moment of sporting perfection.
The closest brush with perfection for many, including myself, might be in the realm of sports. I vividly recall a summer day achieving a cricket hat-trick while playing for the Old Wyggestonians Second XI. As a young, energetic seam bowler, I toiled for 17 overs against Barrow-on-Soar, conceding runs without a breakthrough. Then, in one over, everything clicked. The top-scoring batsman, who had been punishing my bowling, was clean bowled by a ball that subtly deviated off the seam. Next, a nervous tail-ender edged a catch behind to the wicketkeeper. The hat-trick ball arrived, and it wasn’t even well-delivered. However, a thick edge flew towards gully, where my dad was fielding.
Ten out of TenAlt text: A “10 out of 10” score card, representing the pursuit of perfect scores and achievements, juxtaposed with the concept of divine perfection.
My dad, usually more accustomed to opening the bowling or batting at number 11 and generally avoiding the ball, was stationed at gully. As the ball hurtled towards him, I braced for disappointment. But then, incredibly, he snared it one-handed at knee height. Out! A spectacular, unexpected catch. A moment of pure, fleeting perfection.
But perfection, as the saying goes, is not all it’s cracked up to be. Maintaining peak performance constantly is an impossible feat.
Reflecting on the relentless pursuit of perfection brings to mind Matthew 5: 21-37. This passage reveals Jesus’ teachings, which seem to elevate the standard of righteousness to an almost unattainable level. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” Jesus amplifies the law, setting the bar impossibly high. If we thought we were clearing the low hurdles of righteousness, Jesus just raised the bar to an Olympic height.
In considering this challenging standard, the insights of bloggers like Bryan Findlayson at Pumpkin Cottage Publications become invaluable. Findlayson, in his analysis of this passage, highlights what he calls “An exceeding righteousness.” He notes that Jesus delves into the divine ideal behind Old Testament laws concerning murder, adultery, divorce, and oaths. This ideal, a “righteousness [that] surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law,” is presented as essential for entering the kingdom of heaven.
Yet, the stark reality is our inherent inability to consistently uphold even the basic commandments. While some might claim partial success, the truth is, we all grapple with anger, desire, dishonesty – falling far short of a perfect score. Jesus, in his mini-parables within Matthew 5, urges us to address this predicament before it’s too late.
The solution, as Findlayson aptly puts it, is to seek someone who embodies “10 out of 10” perfection. We need to “knock on his door and ask if we can come in, and there, in the security of his house, weather the threatening storm.” It’s a powerful image, reminiscent of childhood strategies – sitting next to the smartest student for answers, or befriending the biggest kids for protection. It’s about recognizing our limitations and seeking refuge in true perfection.
And who is this perfect refuge? It is Jesus himself. Who else can truly embody this flawless standard? He offers not just refuge, but transformation. Within his presence, we find not just shelter from the storm, but also a teacher, encourager, and equipper. He shapes and molds us, building us up from within.
The beauty of this refuge is its unconditional availability. Jesus never turns us away. His door is always open, regardless of the storms we face or the imperfections we carry.
Those fleeting moments of personal perfection, like a cricket hat-trick or mastering the “U Can’t Touch This” dance, are indeed special. But the enduring perfection, the true peace, lies in being with the Perfect One. In his grace, we find a joy that transcends the unattainable pursuit of human flawlessness.
