Baked to Perfection?

I love to bake. I have for as long as I can remember. It’s something I enjoyed doing with my Mom as a kid. We had a few conversations over the years about what it would be like to own a bakery. Sometimes I still think about it. In fact, many of my friends, including social media friends who see me post pictures of some of the things I make, have suggested that as well.

Part of me says that would be cool. But another part of me says maybe not so much. It would take some of the enjoyment out of it if I did it for work purposes. It’s one of the things in life that gives me genuine pleasure, so I don’t really want to lose that.

Plus, those pictures I like to post of the things I bake might look good but how does anyone really know if they actually are good? I mean a few people know but mostly people say it looks good without knowing. What you don’t realize is that I might spend about as much time trying to take the perfect picture as I do actually making the product. Alright, maybe not quite that long. My point today is this, perfect isn’t real.

I choose a display dish, the spot on the counter with the best lighting, turn the dish to display the baked good’s best side and take multiple photos of one silly cake or pastry. Some of them are naturally pretty. Some of them taste better than others. Sometimes I actually knock one out of the park. But sometimes it’s just smoke and mirrors. Sometimes I waste an entire bag of flour before I get it right.

Life is much the same way. We assume what we see on the surface or in passing equals good throughout. Friends, this just isn’t true. I’m as guilty as anyone at letting my thoughts run away and thinking someone has it all together while I’m just barely keeping my head above water. In reality, most of us are just trying to showcase our best side in public.

Some days we naturally knock it out of the park. And some days we have to spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to cover our flaws and get the best presentable picture. Let’s stop putting pressure on ourselves and each other to be perfect. Let’s stop assuming that because someone has or does something that you don’t, that they automatically have it better or that they didn’t have to put in the work to get it. Let’s stop believing that perfect is a real thing. Short of Jesus, perfect just doesn’t exist.

There is no perfect path, perfect job, perfect spouse, perfect friend, perfect house, perfect kid, or perfect life. These are illusions. I believe God has a best life for each of us when he seek and obey His will. But there is no perfect on this side of Heaven – even though some baked goods might make us think so for just a minute.

Instead of chasing perfect, let’s chase our best selves. Let’s spend more time cheering for each other and less time trying to judge each other. Let’s focus more on getting to know someone and less time talking about them. I pray that when someone gets to know each of us that they find real, honest, genuine good instead of just a pretty dish and fortunate lighting.