Pursuit of Perfection

Not many people will tell you they like Robin more than Batman. Bruce is smarter, tougher and clearly Robin's superior in every way. But I think that's why I have always liked the character so much. I identify with him. Central to the character is the diligent pursuit of a student following the example of a master of his craft. It's not a stretch to see how their relationship mirrors our lives as Christians. Jesus once preached, "Be perfect, as my Father in heaven is perfect." Man! Talk about high standards! Bruce demands similar perfection from everyone he trains. The thing is, Robin will never live up to that standard, and Bruce knows it. He knows it because, even the great Batman fails to reach his own standard. While Bruce is often portrayed as the standard of human perfection in comics, he's anything but. What makes Batman so unique, is not that he is perfect, but that he realizes he will never be, and pursues it anyways.

None of us --including Batman and Robin-- are perfect, but there once was a guy who was, and still is. He can demand perfection, because He actually pulled it off. He lived a blameless life, and conquered evil all on His own. Batman chases perfection, Jesus is perfection. And while we may never be perfect, Christ's sacrifice means you don't have to be. When Batman wins, doesn't Robin? Even if he fails to knock out a single thug, when the dust settles, Robin stands right beside Bruce -- victorious over evil. When you follow behind Christ, His perfection is enough. But becoming a disciple of Christ doesn't mean every fight will go smoothly. You will stumble, you will fall, but you will not fail. Being sidekick to Christ means He will always be there to pick you up, no matter how hard you hit the floor. Though Batman can't teach Robin to be perfect, he can teach him to try to be. That means never giving up, always trying harder. Learn from your mistakes and try your best. Get behind Christ and learn from the master.