The Good Stuff

Robin Williams was a staple of my childhood through his performances in Aladdin and Mrs. Doubtfire. He was absolutely hilarious as the Genie and somehow still pulled off being a British grandmother. He had a talent for making people laugh.

He also had a talent for making me think.

Life Is Meant to Be Lived

Sean in Good Will Hunting is a psychiatrist who has met his match in Will Hunting, a scared genius with a challenging past.

Sean tries to connect with Will, but the walls are up. Will refuses to let him in and instead looks to break down Sean. This definitely works, and their first interaction ends with fireworks.

Then comes the famous park scene where Sean explains to Will that life is for living, not simply reading about. People are more complex than a book, and that makes them all the more interesting to learn about.

Sean leaves Will by saying he is fascinated by him and wants to learn more, but Will is the only one who can let him in.

For many people, that is the scene of the movie. I understand why. It cuts to the heart of life. It is meant to be lived, not simply observed.

However, it is another scene that stood out to me.

The Good Stuff

Will has just been on a great date with a great girl. He tells Sean that he is unsure if he wants to go on a second date. Will says he is worried that he will find out she isn’t perfect.

Sean turns it around and says maybe she will find out that Will isn’t perfect.

Sean then tells a story about his wife and how she would fart when she was nervous or sleeping. She even farted so loudly that she woke herself up. Sean and Will share a laugh about the woman Sean loved.

Sean remarks that his wife has been dead for two years, but he still remembers those small idiosyncrasies that made her his wife.

Sean then bursts Will’s bubble.

He points out the obvious: Will isn’t perfect, and neither is his girl. He then suggests that he find out if they are perfect for each other because that is the real question.

People are imperfect. If we look for the perfect person, we will never find them. We should stop wasting our time.

Instead, we should learn to love people as they are, with all their “imperfections.” Maybe they aren’t imperfections at all. Instead, they may be, as Sean would say, the good stuff.

More Than Other People's Imperfections

To clarify, these imperfections are not sinful actions or destructive behaviors.

A wife farting and waking herself up at night is not sinful. It can be annoying if we choose to take it that way. Or it can be a reminder of her wonderful uniqueness.

If we slow down in life, we will see this in our spouses, kids, parents, grandparents, and friends. We can choose to be annoyed by it, or we can smile because it is a fun part of who they are.

There is another reason this scene resonates with me. I am not just frustrated by the imperfections of others. I am uncomfortable with my own.

Deep down, I know I am not perfect. Like Will, I often try to hide that fact.

In my many roles, I try to ignore my imperfections. I put up a wall like Will until I can no longer hide them. Then I have to accept the facts: I am flawed, but I still want to be accepted and loved.

We want someone like Sean to appreciate us for who we truly are, not the masks that we constantly wear.

We may get glimpses of this love on Earth, but there is only one person who will ever know us completely and love us completely. It is the same God who loved David and called him a man after God's own heart.

Weekly Challenge

This week, identify one harmless quirk in someone you love that normally irritates you.

Instead of focusing on the annoyance, choose to see it as part of what makes that person uniquely themselves.

Then spend a few minutes reflecting on one of your own imperfections that you usually try to hide. Bring it to God in prayer and thank Him for loving you as you are while continuing to help you become who you are meant to be.

Forge Ahead

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