Monday Musings…
“I begin to ask myself how we can learn all the things God wants to teach us if we limit our intake with fear. I see fear everywhere: the common fear of having to think in a new way; fear of listening to other spiritual points of view; fear of revelations about God that don’t fit comfortably with existing ideas and opinions. Could the God of all creation really only be capable of revealing Himself to all people in (just) one way.” Paula D’Arcy: The Gift of the Red Bird
The previous paragraph struck my heart deeply and resonated strongly within my spirit. But before you get too concerned, this isn’t my declaration that “all roads lead to heaven”. For I know that all roads most certainly do not. I remain in faith that “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). I’m concerned however that though my faith is deeply planted in that truth, I’m much too defensive? My natural tendencies are to speak dismissively of other religions and others’ struggle to find God? For all the grace I’ve received and the little bit of grace I understand, I remain too harsh about others’ journeys.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Is my God big enough to “direct the paths” of all those who seek to trust Him, even if their ideology isn’t perfect? That phrase “direct paths” actually means to make “paths straight”. Even my journey to God started on some sort of crooked path of truth. Some aspect of my belief, hope, and faith weren’t and still aren’t completely straight…
My dogma to defend my path, my need to be right, and my unwillingness to listen to other spiritual insights make my “way” much to narrow for others to follow. To make matters worse, over the past twenty-five years, the Church has tethered her beliefs to her political platforms. Thus nearly “dogmatizing” her out of influence.
I read an interesting piece in the New York Times Sunday (http://tinyurl.com/cukvtpt). It stated that nearly 25% of young adults in America mark “none” on surveys when it comes to religious preferences. Yet only a very small percentage of those considered themselves atheists. That means there remains openness to spiritual truth, at precisely the same time there’s a growing disdain for organized religion. This generation is concerned that religion is so entangled with politics that they’ve decided to opt out of both.
Still desiring truth, but disliking the delivery system brings us an awesome opportunity to change not the object of, but the vehicle of our revelation.
But are we ready to reach the generations around us? Are we ready to embrace humility? Are we ready to love others and respect their paths (even if their paths need some straightening)? I’d like to say, “I am”, but it would be easier to do this as a “we are”…
