Imperfect is Still Beautiful

 

There are still a fair number of flowers out there, even though we are entering the tail end of the Summer and many of our plants are beginning to show some wear and tear that just comes from living in the out of doors.  If you look, you can find many specimens that are at their peak - about as perfect as they will ever be.

But, that perfection lasts for such a short period of time.  And soon, the petals begin to fade and damage begins to show from insects, wind and whatever other things the flower has been exposed to.  

It can be difficult to look at a flower that is clearly not the best version of its kind at the moment you observe it.  Anyone who likes flowers gets an idealized version of what a flower should look like in their head - and it can be very hard to avoid being judgemental about the beauty that is sitting right in front of you.

The perennial phlox flower shown above was just passing its peak.  There is a little nibbling at the bottom right, a little curling of the petals at the top left and some discoloration here and there.  Meanwhile, another, younger, flower sits behind it - daring us to make the comparison and find the flower in front lacking.

The hosta flower at left was the only one open fully on this stem.  The others were either fully past or yet to open.  It should be at its grandest moment, yet there was a hole, likely created by a hungry critter of some sort - marring the potential for perfection.

Neither of these flowers was perfect.  Neither of the photos taken here will become illustrations used to describe the flowers on these plants either.  They are not the ideal.  They do not put the best foot (or root) forward for phlox and hosta around the world.  They are flawed, damaged, and unworthy of our attention.

At least that is the way we often look at things - and that is one of the flaws we humans often need to address.

We fail to see the beauty in imperfection.  We don't like to see the after effects of illness, injury or... the weathering that life brings.

But, why did I actually take pictures of these flowers if they were not perfect?  What prompted me to record imperfection?

First of all, from a little bit of distance, each of these flowers still stood out and were clearly attractive to my eyes.  And it was not just my eyes that found them of interest.  Hummingbirds and a whole host of insects were checking many of them out.  

Even if intense scrutiny revealed a little damage here and there, each of these flowers provided a piece of the overall beauty that is in nature this time of year.   And, I ask you, would we recognize the perfectly formed flower for what it is at that moment in time if we did not also see the other stages in its development and its demise?

Maybe our attraction to the perfect flower and our rejection of those that have passed that point in their lives has something to do with our own recognition of our own imperfections and flaws.  Perhaps if we can see realize the image of the pristine flower in our head is actually incarnate and in our presence, we might feel as if we can achieve our own perfection - if only for that brief moment.

It is likely, however, that this is the wrong lesson.  Is it possible, instead, that the best lesson to take from this is for us to find beauty in what is around us and who is around us - just as they are right now?