Our first grader is learning to read and write. As he practices writing, his school teaches an approach known as “brave spelling.” That is, he is encouraged to sound out a word and spell it as best he can. He is to articulate his thoughts knowing that they will not be written perfectly.
Here is an example:
He makes mistakes, sure, but this approach frees him to communicate on a surprisingly high level for someone who has just begun to write. And his spelling actually improves in the process of imperfect articulation.
Something similar happens as we learn to articulate our interior lifes… to a loved one, in spiritual direction, in prayer. Of course we will make mistakes as we perceive and share our deepest longings. But in the attempt (and as we ask for the grace to see clearly) our “spelling” will improve. This is a process that continues our whole lives.
Put a different way, if we do not bravely work to articulate our interior lives, I’m not sure we grow much.
“Perfect” is neither possible nor is it the aim. And if we wait for “perfect,” we will never say what needs to be said.
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