In an article in The Atlantic, Ann Dowsett Johnston writes honestly about what she calls "the tyrannical myth of perfection." Here's how one of Johnston's friends described the harsh demands of perfectionism:

At one point in my life I was trying to be the perfect woman … I was involved in so many community efforts—it was that feeling that I was never good enough. That whole perfectionist thing was driving everyone: you could bust your [butt], and it wasn't good enough … I think we're living in a culture that's so demanding … People are exhausted at the end of the day … A lot of people have to self-medicate because it would be hard for them to look in the mirror otherwise.

Johnston admits that she has often tried to self-medicate the pain of her perfectionism with a glass of wine—or two, or even three. She writes:

With two parents who had their own serious troubles with alcohol, alarm bells should have been ringing. But my habit seemed relatively harmless. Common, even. A glass or two seemed innocent enough … Alcohol smoothed the switch from [my hectic work schedule] to my [role at home]. It seemed to make life purr. I could juggle a lot. Until, of course, I couldn't.

She adds a statement that applies to many of the ways we try to numb perfectionism's demands: "That's the thing about a drinking problem: It's progressive. But for a long, long time, alcohol can step in as your able partner, providing welcome support—before you want to boot it out."

Possible Preaching Angles: (1) Perfectionism; Performance; Escape; Addiction—Everything Johnston says about alcohol often applies to the other ways we try to escape from perfectionism. (2) God, grace of; Justification; Justification by Faith—This story also shows our need to find true rest in the grace of God. (3) Christmas—This is a great way to remind people that the essence of this busy season isn't our perfection, but God's grace.