The perfect

Let me start by saying this blog entry is going to be a little unorthodox. For some of you, I suspect it will not be your cup of tea. My hope is though, through this little experiment, some of you will relate or at least understand what I am talking about.

There is something in me which is a quest for perfection. I don't mean spiritual perfection or some illusion that I can be perfect, rather is a drive to want to make certain things perfect. This is that moment when you taste a really good food and say, what would I add to this. How would I make this even better. I've done this with not just food, but events, presentations, and recently writing.

In my mind I imagine the perfect item being completely overwhelming, you can't look away. It causes an epiphany, opening your eyes or taste buds to things never before imagined. If the perfection of God could destroy the onlooker, than a perfect sentence should at least destroy someone's ability to respond to it. Yet, while this is a quest of my mind, I normally write fairly plain, not particularly remarkable sentences.

"Sadness has a certain beauty."

A perfect sentence would not be vague.

"Joy is the beauty of sadness."

Not clear yet.

"Sadness reminds you of the joy you will experience on the other side."

It should be richer.

"The beauty of sadness is emerging from the fog of sorrow, into the light with the beads of moisture fresh on your cheeks."

It should not be confusing and should be better at showing.

"Astounding beauty is found in the man draped in the black fog of sorrow, because he causes us to see the future where he stands with inky tears in the radiance of the sun."

It should touch the audience.

"You stand in the sun with a smile so real it beckons people with the hope of touching pure joy, but I can't help but notice the shirt, wrinkled where my arms held you as you wept."