The poem says Monday’s child is fair of face. In my case, it would more accurately read fair of mind or fair-minded.
Like many, I would guess, it seems as if I came out of the womb with my tuner set to detect inequality and unevenness. The tuner didn’t work perfectly, but it was more than operational.
In other words, I was born an idealist.
I’ve had many years to adjust my expectations to the reality we all face, but, deep under the surface, my tuner is still operational; moreover, my tuner not only detects injustice, but many other kinds of suffering as well…suffering caused by an imperfect world.
Therefore, it has sometimes been difficult for me to reconcile a God who is all-loving, all-good and all-knowing with a world which is far from ideal.
Yet, I’m sure I’ve heard a few good, sound sermons, and I’ve read at least one super excellent book (C.S. Lewis’s The Problem of Pain) on the subject. In reality, this is only one of the many hard mysteries we may struggle with.
For example, my friend, Amy, was recently grappling with the subject of the election of the believer (another sensitive theological topic). Yesterday, when I emailed Amy about writing this up, she let me know she’s put her disquiet and questions aside; she credits God with granting her peace on the subject, but, in the past, we’ve actually had members leave our congregation over this issue. I know where I fall on the question, but, even so, my belief feels out of line with the point on the dial where my tuner gets the best reception; this, sometimes, causes me understandable uneasiness.
Like any unsolvable mystery, I don’t have the answers, but the Bible poetically tells us: “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12 (NIV)
For me, the beauty of the passage is not only in the wording, but the core. I think Paul, the man who seemed to know everything, is telling us his faith ultimately holds him up….ultimately, he holds on tight to his hope in God. Seemingly, Paul calmly waits for the future when all the mysteries will be unraveled…when the puzzle pieces will fall into place….when God, in his unfathomable wisdom, will sit down with us and help us connect the dots.
Funnily enough, I picture us collectively exclaiming, “Ah ha!” when this happens.
Beautifully enough, I picture us amazed and grateful and perfectly understanding why we weren’t ready to see it before.
I rest in that hope.
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My friends, Beth and Eric, recently went on a camping trip and came back with a little story. While they were far from artificial light, they set up a hammock to look at stars. Beth described the sight as “more star than sky.” I love her wording, but it made me wonder if, while they were gazing, one of their twins might’ve questioned them on the number of stars in the dark blue night overhead. If so, I bet Beth and Eric didn’t even try to answer….because the point wasn’t how many stars were in the sky….but that the stars covered the sky…..just as God’s love covers us.
For now, I cling to God’s love, the faith He’s gifted me and the hope of one day understanding His mysteries.
In wonder, I find this is enough…completely enough…and, miraculously, this fills me up.
*****
While writing, I listened to
Download 12 'Til We See the Shore
by Seabird.
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