A Question Of Perfection

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"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." ~ Matthew 5:48

A few days ago, I was talking about religion with a friend, and self proclaimed WICCAN.  Yes, I know religion is supposed to be the proverbial third rail among friends.  I'm sorry though, there comes a point in a friendship, where if you're still only discussing superficial things (the Kardashians, Real Housewives of Omaha, and Star Trek), it may be a stagnant relationship. 

Anyway, my friend asked, "If God made mankind perfectly, why have people such as Hitler existed?"

I puzzled and I puzzled until my puzzler was sore.  Eventually, I told her we were a perfect creation, but what we do with that creation is up to us.  She went home satisfied with my answer. 

I'm not. 

The answer is based on the idea that people are born with the same number of; abilities, resources, and opportunities; and our lives are shaped by our choices.  It's a nice fluffy thought, but BUZZ, sorry, wrong answer!  Thanks for playing; Rod Roddy, tell them about their consolation prize. 

We don't start out on an equal playing field.  Some people are born with chronic physical and/or academic challenges.  Others are born into mind numbing poverty.  Thousands are still being born into slavery to mine diamonds.  We aren't all created equally or perfectly, at least not by our definition. 

 I still think of the Holy Trinity as being perfect.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reverently robed, watching over us from a white marble banister, surrounded by a host of angels.  It's how I drew them.  (See above)

Yet, it's a perfection I don't understand.  We may be so close to a single thread that we can’t see the perfection of the entire cosmic tapestry.  It's the best answer I can come up with.  Yet such an answer, while making me comfortable with my Christian faith, does nothing for the five-year-old digging for diamonds in Africa. 

I have faith in you Lord, but I don't understand your perfection.  Amen.