Love wins

Love conquers everything without diminishing it. Love desires the perfection of the beloved.

The way of perfection is the way to perfection. In "The Way of Perfection," St. Teresa of Avila does not mean that we have to be perfect in order to be heading in that direction. We are on the road (Tao) to our complete fulfillment — "satchitananda," infinite being, infinite understanding, infinite bliss — but we are not there yet. We are on the Way.

God perfects us, His love perfects us, His mercy perfects us, His presence perfects us, His goodness perfects us, His beauty perfects us. He will complete the good work that He has begun in us (Phil 1:6).

We are God's masterpiece: each one of us is unique, special, precious, chosen, irreplaceable. No one can take my place in the arms of God. No one else can be me.

I am who I am by the grace of God (1 Cor 15:10). I am he who will be made perfectly me by the grace of God. That is His plan, His will for my life, my destiny, my calling, my vocation.

I don't have to be perfect to be good. There is a big gap between where I am and where I am called to be. Journeying toward that destination, crossing that gap, is my daily bread, my daily work, my daily soul food.

It is good to be good. I don't have to be perfect to be good. "We claim progress, not perfection" (AA).