Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion.” And, for many, our religion and spirituality are based on the foundation of us wanting to be good people and do good deeds.
It makes sense then that one of the most repeated words in Genesis is the Hebrew word Tov, which means good. But what does it mean to be good? Unfortunately, given other cultural influences, we too often confuse good with perfect.
What if finding the good, in us, in others, in our world, were easier than we’ve ever imagined? And, what if embracing imperfection, rather than striving for unattainable perfection, can lead to greater freedom and spiritual growth?
Quick Links:
- What Does It Mean to Be Good? Contrasting Ideas of Goodness
- Finding Good in Imperfection: A Swedenborgian Perspective on Failure
- Moving Beyond Success and Failure: Finding Good in the Mission
- Finding Good and Finding Our Mission
What Does It Mean to Be Good? Contrasting Ideas of Goodness
As mentioned, in Genesis, the most repeated word is tov or good. For example, God declares creation “good.” In fact, after each day of creation, Genesis notes “God saw, and it was good." It’s important to note here, that good is not “perfect,” which suggests that, inherent in goodness, is the acceptance of imperfection. This distinction is crucial because it challenges the prevalent notion that we must always strive for an unattainable standard of flawlessness.
Let’s take some of the examples we see in nature. From the gnarled tree whose divergent branches still produce shade to the asymmetrical petals of a beautiful flower, we can still see beauty. We also still see its goodness, especially as it relates to its function and role in the grander scheme.
For the Greeks, whose art we still revere, the concept of goodness stands in contrast to Genesis. Flawless statues and ideal forms suggest goodness and perfection are one and the same. Unfortunately, this focus on perfection can make people intolerant of even the smallest flaws. In fact, ruining the perfection of a statue was seen as a crime and in ancient times knocking the nose off a sculpture was enough to destroy its value because it was no longer perfect.
Why does this contrast matter? Perfection does not leave room for difference, for flaws, or for failure. If we believe life should be perfect, as in the Greek ideal, we may bail very quickly when we encounter flaws, in ourselves, in others, in our communities, and, more importantly, we may bail when we first encounter failure. Goodness, in contrast, allows us to deal with imperfection and flaws far differently.
Finding Good in Imperfection: A Swedenborgian Perspective on Failure
As you may have guessed, Swendenborg, and Swedenborgian theology, has their own perspectives on failure, rooted in exploring the concept of tov. In fact, Swedenborg provides rich insights into the connections between goodness, failure, and imperfection, which can help us find goodness in life, even amidst challenges.
1. Goodness and Imperfection
Swedenborg emphasizes that goodness lies at the very center of spiritual growth, and it comes not from outward perfection but from being aligned, internally, with divine love and wisdom. This goodness is then nurtured through continual improvement and reflection, because human life is imperfect and filled with opportunities for learning. Everyone is capable of embracing and reflecting divine goodness as long as they are open to divine influence. In other words, even if we are imperfect, there is room for goodness as long as we strive toward love and wisdom.
2. Failure as a Path to Growth
Where the Greeks saw imperfection as the ultimate failure, Swedenborg suggests that failure and imperfection do not block spiritual progress. In fact, according to him, failures are a natural part of this process. Through failure, we can see our weaknesses and shortcomings, which allows us to make changes. Setbacks in life force us to take stock and then, in turn, help drive us toward a deeper understanding of love and goodness.
3. Divine Providence in Imperfection
Imperfection itself is an essential part of the human experience, where God’s providence works through our free will. Swedenborg teaches that God allows human imperfections not as punishments but as means for spiritual growth. Through divine providence, we are continuously being led toward greater alignment with the divine will, even when we face failures or fall short of our ideals. God’s wisdom guides us to find good in everything, even when it is not immediately apparent.
Moving Beyond Success and Failure: Finding Good in the Mission
In life, we often measure ourselves by success or failure, but true goodness transcends these outward markers. The Hebrew word tov reflects more than just a favorable outcome. It suggests an alignment with a higher purpose, something divinely woven into the fabric of our lives. To move beyond success and failure asks us to shift our focus from outcomes to intentions, from what we achieve to *why* we act.
In fact, even child psychologists have recognized that praising the effort rather than the outcome leads to more significant and long-term rewards, including reinforcing the “good” behavior, such as studying as opposed to grades. The same is true for us, as adults. If we focus on the mission, on the why, we can find the good.
As for Swedenborg, he also teaches that goodness is found in our mission when we align our actions with love and wisdom, regardless of the results. Success and failure are fleeting; they come and go as part of life’s ebb and flow. However, the pursuit of *good* is deeper; it’s everlasting, even in the afterlife.
By embracing the mission, not just the end result, we unlock the deeper good, the tov that enriches our spirit and strengthens our connection to the divine. In short, our focus should not be on constantly judging ourselves as successes or failures. Instead, we should prioritize being faithful to our mission in life. This mission is rooted in the question "Why was I sent?"
When we understand the purpose of our existence, we can move beyond the limitations of success and failure and focus on living a life aligned with that purpose. It is with this idea New Church Live, where the goal was simply to “see what the Lord can do with this church". The focus was not on achieving a predetermined outcome but on faithfully carrying out a mission, trusting in a power greater than themselves.
Finding Good and Finding Our Mission
At the heart of the human experience is a quest for meaning—an innate desire to find our mission in life. As we have stressed here, the mission is not just about outcomes, be it personal success or fulfilling ambitions; it’s about aligning ourselves with a deeper, universal good.
Tov reminds us that true goodness comes from living in harmony with our higher purpose and that not only will we fail along the way, but that’s part of the journey. To find our mission is to discover where our unique gifts meet the world’s needs, and in doing so, we uncover the divine tov within us.
Love and Thoughtfulness: The Demands of a Christian Life
In Swedenborg’s Heaven and Hell, Swedenborg answers the question “What are the demands of a Christian life?” with: “Love and thoughtfulness.” These, not success or failure, are the true measures of a life well-lived. When confronted with inconveniences to our day or tasks we’d prefer not to complete, we must ask ourselves if we’re willing to endure inconvenience or temporary suffering to embrace love and thoughtfulness. That is what we are called to do, asked to do, for ourselves and our communities.
Holding Regrets Lightly: Embracing the Clean Slate
Regret is a fairly common human experience and while we’ve discussed that some of Tov is about embracing our humanness and its faults, regret can hinder our ability to move forward. Regret, however, is about focusing on failures and when we focus on failures, they begin to define us, others, or even our mission. It is possible to acknowledge our regrets without allowing them to define us. If we accept our imperfections, accept that we will fail, and understand that they are part of the journey, it is far easier for us to envision a clean slate. Then, we can release the burden of past mistakes and refocus on our mission in life.
Embracing the Journey: Finding God in the Imperfect Present
Once we release the need for perfection, embrace our faults and flaws, and focus on love and thoughtfulness, we can experience true freedom and discover the divine within the messy, imperfect reality of our lives. God does not demand perfection but simply asks for faithfulness to the unique path we are each given. Each creation, each day, was good. We are like this. Our journey is like this. It’s not about arriving at a perfect destination, but about recognizing the presence of the divine in each imperfect step we take.
Celebrating Faithfulness
Finally, instead of focusing on celebrating success or failure, we should celebrate faithfulness to our mission in life. This means recognizing and honoring the commitment to living out our unique purpose, regardless of the outcomes.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus states, “But he said, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’” Jesus understood the assignment.
Jesus' priority was not in achieving a particular outcome, but remaining faithful to the mission he was given. This faithfulness is what we should strive for and celebrate in our own lives. Jesus didn’t focus on success or failure; he focused on the mission. Are we asking ourselves the same questions? Are we asking the same of ourselves? And, if not, why would we ask more of ourselves than Jesus would ask of himself?
Ready to start your journey and focus on the journey rather than the outcome? At NewChurch Live, we’re ready to meet you wherever you may be, figuratively and literally. As an online church, we aim to connect with you in ways that are not just meaningful but that also allow you to meet the needs of your unique spiritual journey.
From Q & A sessions with our pastor and Swedenborg theologists to daily meditations and group activities, we’re looking forward to connecting with you!
