The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

An important factor when coming to equilibrium in one’s faith is the need to recognize that we simply do not know all there is to know about the Divine. It’s easy to proclaim otherwise because people respond quite well when they are given the black or white choices we favor in life. No fence riding here. It’s either right or wrong with little left to the imagination, even when well-founded.

In recent decades the literal Word and its myriad interpretations has become a standard bearer for many. Others point to an anything goes progressive vanguard that, according to some, will consign many of us to hell and eternal damnation. In either case there is a tendency to devolve back to yes or no rejoinders because it is the easiest route to take when it comes to entertaining religion. No need to dissect anything, just swallow it whole.

Perceptions and religious conclusions are greatly influenced by one’s vantage point. Recent snows covered many of the meandering sidewalks around our house. A planar two-dimensional view was mostly unhelpful to locate the walks. Our problem regarding perspective was remedied by elevating our vantage point a few feet upward so that a three-dimensional view emerged. With relatively small effort on our part, the third dimension became a tool for interpreting this enhanced view as we cleared the walks. Theologically diverse strains of thought represent hybrid vigor potential. It’s easy to advance one’s own perspective but also quite challenging to include a dissimilar view alongside our own. If we do the hard work of emptying self, and get in the habit of checking back often, then there is boundless potential for something to emerge that is far deeper and richer than mere words and verses strung together.

When opposing avenues of thought collide, the encounter frequently results in robust discussion. What do we do when multiple ideas and considerations are laid before us in the same moment? It gets, well, complicated. To that end, churches and businesses can quickly bog down instead of moving forward. The devil is in the details, so to speak. Thermostat wars have claimed far too many well-intentioned parishioners.

To move beyond ourselves, to seek out Divine presence, is not something to do once or twice and then check off our list. It is an every day, every moment, every person sort of thing characterized by unexpected wonder, amazement, and no small amount of suspense. It takes some fortitude and awareness. And don’t be surprised when astonishing contributions of thought arise from the most unexpected or unlikely places.

It is up to us to welcome and encourage diverse thought and action resulting in a clearer understanding of our place in the cosmos. We cannot afford to dismiss the Word any more than we can ignore scientific and intellectual prowess. Are these not also gifts of the Spirit?

Freeing one’s self to think three dimensionally (depth, height, breadth) allows for a fourth dimension of time to assert itself. Recent excitement over the James Webb Space Telescope anticipates the potential to peer further back in time than has ever been accomplished through human endeavor. Is how we view our faith and our world about to change once again? Time will tell.