1/32 of an Inch

Dwight was older than me. 

He had the knowledge and experience. 

I had the eagerness to learn woodworking and building things.

He had the patience to teach me.

It was a perfect pairing.

Most every Saturday I would make my way to Dwight and Betty’s farm where they lived in a simple frame house. 

“Dwight and Betty’s.” That’s how everyone referred to it. Never just “Dwight’s.” That’s because you couldn’t think of one without thinking of the other.

I never saw Betty that she wasn’t busy doing something, whether it was hoeing the weeds and grass out of the gorgeous flowers she grew, carrying firewood into the house, or canning vegetables. Her homemade relish makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

She was a go-getter.

Dwight took a more casual approach to things.

One day in July, though, I arrived on the farm ready to join Dwight in the small single-wide trailer his mother-in-law used to live in that he’d taken all the walls out of and converted to a woodworking shop, but he was out in the yard on his tractor-mower pulling tree limbs behind it, while Betty was hollering directions at him.

I headed on in the shop to work on a project we’d started, expecting him to join me shortly once he saw my truck.

A couple of hours passed and he still hadn’t showed up, so I paused and looked out the open doorway to see what was going on.

The tractor was idling in the yard, and Dwight was heading toward me, wiping sweat off his face. I’d never seen him sweat.

He stated the obvious. “It’s hot out here, Dave.” 

I agreed, and asked, “What are you doing? Doesn’t Betty usually take care of the yard?”

With a straight face, he answered, “I’m keeping peace. I may be too busy to work in the shop today.” 

And with that, he headed back to the tractor.

“Keeping peace.” That’s a good idea, isn’t it. Whether you’re talking about your marriage, your friendships, or your work setting, “Keeping peace” would sure go a long way towards making life easier and more enjoyable.

In the shop, Dwight and I tended to be perfectionists. Many times we would look at a joint were trying to put together or a shelf we were trying to level, and we’d see it was “off,” which meant it wasn’t perfect. And even though we both agreed no one would notice, and we’d quote the adage to each other, “the difference between good carpenter and a really good carpenter is the ability to hide your mistakes,” it didn’t matter. We would either re-cut a new piece to make it fit, or we’d toss the whole thing out the door to go in a burn pile.

Walking into the shop was dangerous for pedestrians, lest they be hit by flying pieces of wood. (Not that there were any pedestrians on the farm. I’m just trying to paint a picture for you.)

Besides being perfectionists, Dwight and I were both tight with money. When we began calculating how much wood we’d burned up because of errors we’d made, it forced us to reach an agreement, and it was this: 

“If something is within 1/32 of an inch of being perfect, then that’s close enough.”

If that doesn’t translate for you, think of how long an inch is, then divide that inch into thirty-two sections. Yeah, it’s small.

I think the “1/32 is Close Enough” rule is a good one to apply in countless situations.

Are you expecting too much out of your kids? Are those expectations unrealistic? Your kids are never going to be perfect at anything. Is the weight of your expectations on them too much? You know, it’s important to help them feel “good enough.”

Speaking of parents, are your expectations of yourself unrealistic? If you’re not able to make it to every single one of your kids’ practices, competitions, ballgames, or performances, yet you always tell them you love them, you take time to listen to them, and you teach them right from wrong, doesn’t that put you within that 1/32 area? Aren’t you doing a “good enough” job? Go ahead, pat yourself on the back. You need the encouragement.

If you work in the manufacturing sector, or in sales, or any other highly competitive setting, you know how those above you are always wanting more. If you reach a goal or quota they’ve set, they’ll brag on you, then bump those goals and quotas a little higher. It’s never enough. It grinds on you, frustrates you, and makes you feel like quitting. Even if they won’t give you a break, give it to yourself by recognizing your performance will never be enough. As long as you’re doing your best (and that’s an important qualifier here), then you’re in that one-thirty second zone. You’re not perfect, but you’re good enough.

What if you’re a Christian? Are you constantly beating yourself up, feeling depressed and hopeless because you keep falling short? I can speak to that because I lived there for too long a time. Let me tell you, if you’re striving to follow Christ and to do the will of the Father, then you’re NOT in the one thirty-second zone. Nobody is because nobody can live that perfect a life. The zone all Christians are in is the Grace and Mercy Zone. Because of grace and mercy, God says we’re good enough. That’s a truth we need to embrace and absorb the peace and comfort that’s there. Say it with me, “I’m not perfect, but I’m good enough.”

* Taken from The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson, Volume 1: I Didn’t Know Donkeys Could Laugh.