Note: Whenever I say "we" or "our," I'm referring to myself and the 13 or so other people that will agree with the following. Heck, I might not even agree with this blog ten minutes after posting.
We are arrogant, self-centered, and blind. We as human beings, not just Americans or just as Christians–although our kettle is far blacker–don't exactly embody lives exemplifying the others-first perspective. In a sense, we can't.
We are limited. Our lifestyles, our choices, and our world views are based upon limited information. There is truth, but that truth in practice is based upon our interpretation. Our perspective of the world is based upon our understanding, which comes directly from our knowledge, application thereof, and life experiences.
I'm not saying that truth is relative. I am saying that there are pieces that we can't know, we can't understand. While we might unconsciously nod our heads in agreement with that statement, does that tidbit affect us to the core?
I've been reading the book Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. Filled with more facts about the origin, evolution, and implications of language than the yearly Guinness edition has world records, my reading sessions are often limited to six, seven, eight pages at a time, but beyond the interesting intricacies there are delicate lessons about humanity being taught. English as we know it is a fluke-filled blip on the historical radar. (It's much more than merely "Latin based.") Our essential way of communicating is global, continually spreading,and arguably unique, but it's also just one of thousands. Think about this: Entire societies have ceased to exist without any physical or linguistic remnants remaining. Those societies weren't just history book blurbs, but people that went through love found, love lost; dealt with physical labor and labor pains; desired a better life only to come up wanting; and spoke to their friends and family about their beliefs in the only way they knew, their mother tongue.
Are we any different?
Yesterday we spent the day working with a Moldovan youth camp from about 9:30am until 11:30pm. Around 10:20pm I was thirsty, dirty, uncomfortable, and insects were using my legs and ankles as landing strips and an impromptu smorgasbord. It was dark. I was quiet and borderline cantankerous. They finished what seemed like the umpteenth prayer in Romanian, which resonates as nothing more than noise to my ears, before our translator informed us that fifteen kids just dedicated their lives to following Christ.
Remember the onomatopoeias featured in classic Batman cartoons such as "wham" and "bam"? That's how my stomache initially felt. God knows the heart, but all I knew was that I wanted to shower and be in bed an hour ago.
It's important to walk in faith on the foundation that has been established, but that groundwork can't be viewed as the way, the truth, the life. It's our way, our truth, our life. (Remain calm. Don't throw any objects. Stay with me.) We have such a small, tiny, itty-bitty, miniscule, minute–insert more synonyms here–understanding and perspective. That's no one's fault more than Adam and Eve's. It's a limitation we experience as humans. It is our fault to think we have the world view, the theology, and the understanding that has eluded billions for millennia. (Sidenote: Literally billions of people on this planet right now do not have an alphabet. Not illiterate, I mean their languages do not have letters to alphabetize.) Does any of that rattle the boxes and categories you've subconsciously formed to make sense of this world?
Section for Nay-Sayers: God knows. God knows your heart, their heart, and my heart. God knows justice for those living a life of affluence and those living a life of subsidence. No part of this writing was an appeal to tolerance, but, instead, an outcry for the recognition of ignorance. Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, not what your current understanding and years of teaching say is Jesus. If we think we have it figured out, we need to revisit the heart of the Father.
Section for the Choir: No, people don't need to "get out" and get more experiences. Others don't have to read your newest favorite book. Nobody on this planet needs to read my mental meanderings. As part of the choir, though, it's certainly ironic to hold this position of agreement. Even by approving that this blog is an accurage explanation, that is thereby further supporting the argument being made. (That's a tongue twister for the mind that I have to rediscover each time I think about this.) If we think we have it figured out, we need to revisit the heart of the Father.
The more I understand, the less I understand. It doesn't make sense, yet it does. That's the a point.
PS: Thanks God. With you around I'll never be bored, and you know how much I don't like being bored. My most recent question is, "Can I fathom a box that doesn't have defining walls?" because I know you can.
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