Perfection?

     At various times in the history of monasticism Jacob's Ladder, from Genesis 28, has served as a symbol representing the spiritual climb toward God through virtue. Saint John the Scholastic’s 7th-century work "The Ladder of Divine Ascent", adopts the ladder to heaven image to describe a 30-step framework for attaining spiritual perfection, with monks ascending toward God. 

     Unfortunately there are at least two problems with this use of the Jacob’s Ladder image. First of all Genesis 28 says nothing either figuratively or literally about humankind ascending a ladder to heaven. God and the angels are the only beings who use this ladder and it is chiefly so that they may come down to earth. Secondly, as far as God is concerned, human perfection has never been the goal. Humans becoming fully human, yes. But perfection, no.

     The Franciscan wisdom teacher, Fr. Richard Rohr has this to say about the ladder climbing tendency of humanity: This is the mindset of early-stage ego consciousness. It puts all the emphasis and total reliance on “me,” my effort, and my spiritual accomplishments. It has little active trust in God’s grace and mercy. It becomes about climbing instead of surrendering. Rohr even goes so far as to say, perfectionism defeats the soul.

     The defeat also comes in two forms. First, the striving and seeking after perfection is a hunger that is never sated. In our attempt to become more fully human we can possibly achieve some level of perfection, but we’ll always come up short and then we will only hunger all the more for that which makes us more fully human. Which is exactly the cause of the second defeat. As we strive for perfection, we are actually striving in the wrong direction. It is not perfection which makes us fully human. It is our imperfection. That is what it means to be human.

     David G. Benner writes: Spare me perfection.Give me instead the wholeness that comes from embracing the full reality of who I am, just as I am.

     Richard Rohr writes: I think imperfection is the organizing principle of the entire human, historical, and spiritual enterprise. Imperfection, in the great spiritual traditions, is not just to be tolerated, excused, or even forgiven. It is the very framework inside of which God makes the God-self known and calls us into gracious union. It’s what allows us—and sometimes forces us—to “fall into the arms of the living God.”

     So, put away the ladder and embrace a fully-human, down-to-earth life..

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Do you find yourself often climbing the ladder striving for the illusive “human perfection”?

It what tangible ways might your life be transformed if you could live by David Benner’s counsel to embrace the full reality of who you are, just as you are?

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David G. Benner, “Perfection and the Harmonics of Wholeness,” “Perfection,” Oneing, Vol. 4, No. 1 (CAC: 2016), 61-63. This article was adapted from David G. Benner, Human Being and Becoming (Brazos Press: 2016).

Adapted from Richard Rohr, Yes, And…: Daily Meditations(Franciscan Media, 2019), 291–293. 

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