Greeks’ worldview was all about wickedness, disrespect, immorality, trickery, and many other sinful things. Not only that, in The Classical Period (480-323 B.C.), Plato introduced his new concept of idealism which is accepted by the Greeks. In this idealism, people believed that there were an ideal world and a shadow world. And, now they think they were trapped in the shadow. Their human bodies, things, and all other creations in the world were just the shadows for them. They believed that there was the perfect ideal for everything, and they want to get nearer to that ideal. They look for that ideal. For them, the only way to reach the ideal world is by studying hard (philosophy).
Greek’s influence has spread to everywhere in this world. The wickedness, deceitful attitude, and immorality are not rare in this modern period. Most of the young people have been affected by this kind of worldview. They feel cool when they become the cruelest people. They no longer long for the truth. Pornography and homosexual that happened nowadays also came from the Greek worldview hundred years before Christ. Idealism is also still rooted in people’s minds. Divorce and quarrel which often happened in families and communities are just caused by this idealism. They simply look for the unrealistic ideal mother, father, spouse, siblings, or friends. They wish they could have ‘this’ kind of parents, school, or church. So, they keep changing everything. At the end, they themselves will be frustrated because they found out that there is no such ‘ideal’. Everybody makes mistakes, and none is perfect; but everybody has their uniqueness too. If only we could accept their weaknesses, we could be happy with our life without being disappointed all the time.
Apparently, I realized that, as the most of the young people, I suffered this idealistic mentality too. I think that there must be the ideal ‘me’. Not just in the appearance, but also in the matter of intellectual and wealth. That is why I am never thankful with what I already have and I always want more than that. I can never be content. I keep striving and working hard to reach my ‘ideal’ which is most of the time unrealistic. Not rare I become frustrated and depressed at the end because I failed to reach my ‘ideal’ in my mind. I demand myself to be what I want and then condemned it when it fails. I often thought in my mind, “I wish I could be like her or him. Maybe if I were them, I could be happier than now. I wish I could have what she or he has.” And, I just knew that this attitude is an idealistic attitude which was in Greeks’ worldview hundred years before Christ. As the result of their worldview, they do not exist anymore now. Their greatness is just temporary.
Psa 139:14 says,” I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” This Scripture contradicts the idealism. If idealism thinks that their bodies and everything in it are not the best, God says that He had created us wonderfully, so everything that we have right now is the best from God. Instead of trying to pursue and chase the best ‘ideal’, we just need to develop the talents given by God for us and make the best out of it. We do not have to chase the perfect ‘ideal’. We are not perfect, yes that is true, and we will not always be perfect. That is why pursuing perfection is unrealistic. Yet, we are unique and we all have at least one thing to be proud of. All humans make mistakes because we all have weaknesses, but that is okay. As what 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness,” weaknesses are the power for us to release God’s power. So, it is useless for us to achieve perfection. It will make us depend on our own strength and not on God’s while actually God’s divine strength is much stronger than our strength.
There is a quote from Anthony Idem, Jr., which says, “Being the best is great, you're number one. But being unique is greater, you're the only one.” This quote is very true and connected to the idealism. I do not have to be frustrated when I cannot be perfect or achieve the ‘ideal’ which I created by myself. I should not compare myself with others for God created me unique. God did not create me so perfect because He wants to reveal His power in my life. Instead, God created me unique and wonderful that He placed a valuable treasure inside me. This treasure does makes differences. There are things that only I can do because it is my purpose of life. I might not have what others have, but I also have what others do not have. I should not be jealous or frustrated then. All that I have to do is finding out the treasure and developing it. I should just do what I can do. My weaknesses? I will just surrender it to God. Those weaknesses are the ones that make me have a total dependant on my Creator. I have to be thankful and grateful of what God has given to me. I should pursue God not perfection. If I keep this attitude, I will achieve the great things and my life will be meaningful. My greatness will last and can be passed down to generations after me. There is no ideal me, but there is unique me !
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