Cracks are how the light gets in . . .

I was telling Gary about this article in the BYU magazine, and as a math teacher, he knew about the term "iterative"  It's a new term to me, but the comparisons to life resonate with me for several reasons (and my favorite scripture is 2 Tim.1:7).    I wanted to keep a record of this article so I could read it from time to time when I'm feeling bogged down.    

THAT'S HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN

By Tyler J. Jarvis (BS ’89, MS ’90)

Some of the most powerful methods for solving hard mathematical problems are what we call iterative methods. You start with an approximate answer—sometimes just a random guess—but you use that guess to generate a new, slightly better answer. Then you take that new answer and apply the method again and again until you get as close as you need to the correct answer. In many settings iterative methods are both the fastest and most robust ways to solve problems.

Iteration is a powerful tool in our lives as well. We repeat these three steps over and over again.

Step 1. Admit and Accept Imperfection  --  if we really want a good answer to many of these hard problems in a reasonable amount of time, we must make do with an approximation and admit some chance of error. I am something of a perfectionist, so this is difficult for me.

But if I am willing to accept an answer that is only close to the perfect one—as soon as I give up on perfection—something amazing happens. We can get a very good approximate solution to the Traveling Salesman Problem not just quickly, but blazingly, astoundingly fast. This approximate solution is not perfect, but it is very good.

Similarly, in our own lives, to avoid being paralyzed by perfection we must admit and accept imperfection. This requires honesty and humility. We can’t try to cover up our ignorance or our mistakes. We must admit them and learn from them.

Step 2. Work Hard to Get Your Best Approximation   Accepting imperfection transforms many important mathematical and computational problems from being unsolvable in the lifetime of the universe to being solvable now on current, actual computers, but the solutions still require deep thought and hard work.

In the same way, admitting and accepting imperfection allows us to find imperfect but workable solutions to our personal and spiritual problems—but these solutions still require deep thought and hard work.

Step 3. Act on Your Best Approximation  It is not enough just to find an approximate answer to the problem. We must also act on that approximate, imperfect answer.  That might scare you. It often scares me. But we cannot let our fear of imperfection, our fear of making a mistake, prevent us from acting.

As Paul told Timothy, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

That’s How the Light Gets In

Let me conclude with the chorus of Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem.” Cohen may not have meant this verse exactly the way I interpret it, but for me it captures very well the idea I am trying to express:

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That’s how the light gets in.

Our bells are cracked. But let’s ring those bells that still can ring. Stop worrying about your failure to achieve perfection—perfection is not possible in this life. Instead embrace the light and healing power of Christ that come in through our cracks and imperfections. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.