Perfection

On July 23, 2009: Mark Buehrle throws perfect game for the Chicago Whitesox. A by the numbers, very impressive accomplishment. How is perfection defined: 27 batters up and subsequently 27 retired. No walks, no runners on base, no runs scored. Of those 27 outs only 6 of them were strike-outs and that is where the definition of perfection becomes more interesting. Much has been made of the defensive substitution by Ozzie Guillenin the 9th inning putting Dewayne Wise into the outfield. And what happens, a tremendous game saving play, literally reaching over the fence and stealing away a certain home run, though after a bobble and near drop. Theatrics, drama, ESPN highlight.

Truth be told there were 21 times during the game where the opposing team hit the ball onto the playing field. 21 times when a defensive player had to make a play, interact with the ball in play, and force the out. Perfection was in fact a collective activity. Buehrle will be the one who makes the hall of fame but he would never get there without the other 9 players who played that night and the coaches.

Christ said:"Be ye therefor perfect even as I and your Father in heaven are perfect" Just as hard of an expectation as you or I throwing a perfect game. Interestingly the Greek translation defines perfect as "complete, finished, fully developed". Nonetheless, the challenge is there - how are we do perform? We are there coached by a loving Father & Son; we have a family & friends as team mates; we have an atonement for when we bobble and have near misses.

An incredible expectations but we have incredible gifts to help us to at least strive.