"Sin: The Path to Excellence"
Sin has long been associated with moral failure, but what if we reframe it?I see sin as something essential to human growth—a necessary part of strivingfor excellence.
At its core, sin simply means “missing the mark.” It’s not about wickednessbut about falling short of an ideal. Christianity and even Gnostic traditionsacknowledge this idea in different ways. The concept of felixculpa—the “happy fault”—suggests that sin is necessary for God’splan. Whether or not one believes in the supernatural, the wisdom of this ideais clear: missing the mark is a natural part of aiming for something greater.
To evolve, both as individuals and as a species, we must take risks andinevitably fall short. This process—of setting goals, failing, and tryingagain—is what drives progress. Every moment of “sin” is evidence that we’repushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones and striving toward our bestpossible selves. This is what we do, consciously or unconsciously, at everypoint in our lives.
Even competition, often seen as divisive, is tied to this idea. Competitionhighlights our shortcomings, creating a contrast between where we are and wherewe want to be. It creates leaders, innovators, and excellence by encouraging usto improve. Of course, competition produces losers, and those losses can feellike failures or even evoke the idea of "evil." But in truth, everyloss is an opportunity—a moment to learn, adapt, and grow stronger.
This is why I celebrate sin—not as a call to moral failure but as an embraceof imperfection and growth. Without sin, without missing the mark, we wouldhave no benchmarks for greatness. There would be no leaders to inspire us, noinnovators to challenge us, and no progress to drive humanity forward.
I don’t believe in the supernatural, but I see wisdom in the way ancientscribes wove this idea into their teachings. Sin, in its truest sense, is notsomething to avoid but something to engage with thoughtfully. It is theevidence of our striving, our courage to try, and our commitment to evolve.
So, I invite you: aim high. Take your shot. Miss the mark. Become a sinnerin the best way possible. In doing so, you’ll not only create a better versionof yourself but also contribute to the collective excellence of humanity.
