“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” -Edmund Burke

In most ways, I am a light-hearted optimist who loves freely and believes that anyone can accomplish anything. However, I am also a stubborn, rational, and competetive perfectionist who feels that if I can’t be fully and absolutely successful, I should not and will not try. A few final qualities that round me out are a deep-seeded compassion for others and the [frequently overwhelming] desire to help others, if not save everyone in my path from whatever pitfalls, heartaches, brokenness, and suffering they may have endured, or may be headed towards.

This evening, I came across the Burke quote, and it sank it’s teeth into my tender, overwhelmed heart. One thing I began learning this summer is how entirely I am redeemed, wanted, pursued, adored, and desired by my Abba. He wants me, He loves me, and He always has. Tonight, in a swirl of thought and contemplation, it’s occurred to me that He’s wanted me always, before He even made me complete. Now that He’s given me everything I need for life in Him [it's in 1 Peter somewhere], He not only wants me – He wants me to do things. He wants me to grow up a little, and shift away from the selfish, self-preserving, perfectionistic idea that if I can’t win I won’t try.  It’s not about that.

Sometimes, you just can’t believe that it took seeing the fireworks and feeling the explosion to understand an idea so simple that all it took was the touch of a match.