A Lesson on Imperfection

This one caught my eye! For a candleholder, it was substantial yet delicate, beautiful, distinctive, and perhaps rare. It was surprisingly heavy when I picked it up. It must be lead crystal. “Miller Rogaska” was finely etched on the bottom. A little internet sleuthing revealed it to be worth far more than the price on the sticker, so it was destined to be mine. I imagined how spectacular it would look with a flickering candle giving light and a little warmth to a room.

At the checkout, the clerk wrapped it in a single sheet of newspaper and put it on top of the other items in my box. I quickly settled my bill and hastily lifted my little box to make space for those waiting in the long line at the register. That’s when my crystal candleholder tumbled out and landed smack on the concrete floor. Most people saw it and everyone heard it. That single sheet of newspaper wasn’t enough to cushion it. I knelt. A big flake of glass was missing from the top. There were a few tiny slivers too small to reclaim. The clerk offered to get a broom.

“I can throw it away if you like,” she said.

“No, I’ll keep it,” I muttered while dealing with my emotions. There was plenty of blame to go around. I was instantly mad at the clerk for her shoddy wrapping job. I was annoyed that I had felt rushed by the line of customers and hadn’t taken ten seconds to relocate my new treasure securely inside the box. Ultimately, I was mad at myself for not being more careful. “Ruined!” was all I could think as I pouted all the way to the car. “Ruined! And worthless!”

A little while later at home, I inspected the candle holder. The damage was conspicuous. The biggest chip could probably be reattached with some special glue. I have decided that I will acknowledge and overlook the imperfection. It is neither ruined nor worthless. It is a flawed thing of beauty that can still serve the purpose for which it was designed. I shall keep it and appreciate it and enjoy it.

What will I remember when I notice the imperfection? It will remind me that I, too, am imperfect, yet I can fulfill my purposes. Beauty persists despite imperfection, and if all imperfect things were discarded, what would be left?

GR Davis Jr. 21 November 2022