Only Imperfection Is Intolerant of Imperfection

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It’s Fénelon Friday!

LETTER 24: Only Imperfection Is Intolerant of Imperfection

It seems to me that you need to be a little more big-hearted about the imperfection of other people. I know you can’t help but see these imperfections when they come right before your eyes and neither can you prevent involuntary opinions about others from popping into your mind. And nobody will deny that the imperfections of others cause us a lot of inconvenience! But it will be enough if you are willing to be patient with imperfections, whether they be serious or not so serious. Do not allow yourself to turn away from people because of their imperfections.

If there is one mark of perfection, it is simply that it can tolerate the imperfections of others. It is able to adjust. It becomes all things to all men. Sometimes we find the most surprising faults in otherwise good people. But we must not be surprised. It is best to let these faults alone and let God deal with them in His time. If we deal with them, we shall end up pulling up the wheat with the tares. I have found that God leaves, even in the most spiritual people, certain weaknesses nesses which seem to be entirely out of place. This is true of all of us. And all of us need to be quick to recognize our own imperfection, letting God deal with them.

As for you, labor to be patient with the weaknesses nesses of other people. You know from experience how bitterly it hurts to be corrected. So work hard to make it less bitter for others. Although I am not saying that you correct other people too much. That is not your problem. Your problem is that you became cool when you discover faults in other people, and you tend to quit associating with them. So you need to deal with that problem.

Now, after all that, I ask you more than ever to not spare me if I need correction. Even if you mention a fault which isn’t really there, there will be no harm done. If I find that your correction wounds me, then my irritability simply shows that you have touched a sore spot in my life. But if there is no irritability and resentment, then at least you will have done me an excellent kindness in testing my ability to be humble, and in keeping me accustomed to reproof. Since I occupy a position of responsibility in the church, I think I am more responsible to be humble even than others are. God demands that I be dead to everything. I need this, just as you do, and I trust that our mutual need will be the means of cementing, rather than weakening, our attachment in the Lord.

Francis Fénelon, Let Go (New Kensington, PA: Whittaker House, 1973).

21 Comments

  1. Hi, Dan! hope you’re all well!
    I have a question for you. Does Let Go cite who the recipients were for Monsieur Fenelon’s advice?

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    1. Haha! I was pretty sure I was going t get comments on this one from you my friend. =)
      I am still dealing with having my heating system replaced. A lot has happened towards that end this week. Hopefully things will be up and running soon. For now I am still heating the house via my wood stove and fire places. Fortunately, this house was built in 1780 so it was well designed for that, but man does it take work! lol!

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      1. Probably it’s like living in long ago – hard work but satisfying to take care of your family.
        No more to say on this here about Monsieur. It’s unloving to come into someone’s home and put down a book they like.
        :0)

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        1. You will get your post answering your question. Whenever I see your little icon pop up I am reminded, and that is a lot. As soon as this heating business is behind me I will get back to it…I promise. But thank you for not “yucking my yum” as my wife would say, and tolerating my perceived imperfection. =)

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          1. That’s a really apt downhome saying, Dan! It’s so stink-um when we or others do this, that is, with food someone’s enjoying. Even a wrinkled nose says too much.

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          7. okay, by God’s grace I’m intending and hoping to be just. I’ve started by going to the New Advent Catholic encyclopedia online.

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