Abstract (as adjective):
1. thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances;
2. expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance;
3. theoretical; not applied or practical;
4. difficult to understand; abstruse.
The traditional proverb, “The perfect is the enemy of the good,”—although it uses three abstractions (perfect, enemy, good)—is a warning about the danger, the possible tyranny, and the “unreality” of abstractions.
With due respect to Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and other great philosophers, theologians, and scientists, sometimes they build elaborate abstract constructs that challenge our thinking about reality but which by themselves aren’t precisely real.
For instance, we used to describe the life of male and female religious as a “state of perfection”. Now we say a “state of seeking perfection”. But no matter how it’s called, there’s no such thing as perfect people.
Perfection, the carrot on the stick dangling before us, may lure us to strive to become ever better—but perfection is unattainable.
Looking forward is a continual frustration, since we are always measuring how much we fall short of the mark. Only looking backward can we find satisfaction in seeing our progress and attainments.
There are many other scales or ranges we use to measure our and other’s lives besides Imperfection/Perfection. For example:
Good/Bad, Right/Wrong, Dumb/Smart, Weak/Strong, Ugly/Beautiful, Rich/Poor, True/False, Heresy/Orthodoxy, Light/Dark, Liberal/Conservative, Success/Failure, Black/White—and even some contemporary categories like Male/Female, Gay/Straight, and Republican/Democrat.
Common to all these scales or ranges is that their two extremes are abstract categories.
No one is or can be 100% one or the other of them; such “purity” doesn’t exist in the real world. Everyone falls somewhere between the two extremes, a blend of both, ranging from 99-1% to 1-99%.
Sometimes these categories are a torment, for we are disappointed by what or where we are or by how little progress we have made in moving towards one or avoiding the other of the two extremes.
Some of us are at peace with what and where we are. Others strive, sometimes relentlessly, to come closer to one extreme than to the other. Some are outstanding, even record-breakers—at least for a while, until someone breaks their record, too.
A consoling thought is to remember that each of us is a unique creation of God, and so, for better or worse, “I gotta be me.”
It’s encouraging to remember that there never has been, is, or will be a person exactly, completely, and 100% like you.
It’s encouraging to remember that there never was, is, or will be a person who has to face a situation that is exactly, completely, and in every way like the situations you may have, are, or will be facing.
It’s encouraging to remember that there are things to be achieved and lives to be touched that never will be achieved and touched unless you achieve and touch them
This oft-quoted prayer may help us keep a balanced perspective: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
30 June 2019