Some people believe that we are born sinful and must live a life of striving toward perfection. Others think we are born perfect and develop illusions as we age requiring a life of recognizing and eliminating illusions.
I have no wish to plumb the depths of theological rationalism.
Somewhere along the journey we call life most of us will stumble on a large root across the path. The sudden realization like a stumble and fall on the wooded path that either we have been living a life wallowing in sin or that we realize that within us lies the capability of performing great sin needing only a trigger event to bring it out.
Perfection is impossible. Striving toward it leads to frustration and psychological trauma. Recognizing the possibility or actualizing of narcissism or cynicism or negativity or spreading hate and hurt can lead us out of the depth. Shedding each negative impulse one at a time by not-striving but allowing the Spirit to touch us (Romans 8:16) until we live the life defined by the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment