Good morning, DearHeart.
We want answers, don’t we? Why did I eat that? What did he mean by that? Why doesn’t the doctor know what to do? Why did that tick me off? Why did he respond like that? Why did she have to die? Why am I so scared? What if I fail?
We’re accustomed in this culture to seek answers, facts, “quantitative data”, to narrow our focus until we’ve solved the problem. But, think about this, doesn’t that reduce the way we see each other and the world? Doesn’t that reduce the work of our Creator? And, doesn’t knowing the answers keep us from finding solace in the mystery? It keeps us from experiencing the sweet surrender and easy humility of simply not knowing. “Simply not knowing” is a wonderful state of being. At least it can be. When we allow ourselves to be washed over by waves of contradiction, and we stop insisting on sorting out each one, when we release blaming others and blaming ourselves, we might find ourselves on new unfamiliar ground, a place where fresh experiences and re-connection become possible. When we see each other’s innate contradictions as a flaw or weakness, we essentially take a stand against their basic human-ness, and that is the real disaster. We also are very likely take the same stand against our own human-ness. We remain apart, separate, because we have rejected a real part of being human. Sometimes, we don’t have to know.
Even there, we can rest.
“They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, “God is back, looking to the needs of his people!” Luke 7:16-17 MSG
Wake up.
Allow space for His mystery.
Go.