Photo for Rob Gungor by Rebecca Shannon
Dear friends,
As we head into the weekend, a time meant for crazy nights and lazy days, reflection and regeneration, I would like to pose a question. It is rather weighty, so if you aren’t in a philosophical mood, perhaps you should abstain from reading any further.
Why do you believe in what you do? I don’t mean religiously, I don’t mean politically, take it how you may. I am curious. People tend to speak passionately about a wide variety of topics that leave me feeling bleary eyed and dizzy from trying to keep up (i.e. Apple vs. PC, a tale (battle) as old as time. Apple users BELIVE their products are superior, PC users BELIEVE Apple users are full of shit).
I was going to make an attempt to project a nonchalant, politically correct persona, but the truth is I am really intrigued by the things people stand behind with their whole heart. Today, it is so common to pretend, to stand with one foot in, one foot out, but speak with a voice bosting defiant confidence. How can one really know anything?
Drew and I had a rather, heated (shall we say), conversation about beliefe the other day. We both grew up in incredibly conservative households that left us feeling immense amounts of shame, guilt, and anger towards certain establishments (our families are full of wonderful people, this feeling we have is not necessarily their fault, we just don’t see the world through the same eyes). In the end, after hours of debate and contemplation, we came to the realization that beliefe (faith, whatever you want to call it) comes down to a blind trust in devine mystery.
With out having parameters for what I am saying, I realize this may seem like a bold or bias statement, however, my point is simple: Love Wins. Devine mystery is a challenge. But both are worth the pursuit.
Our world loves to have things packaged up, neat and tidy, tied with string. Perfect definitions, rules, and certainty for an uncertain world comforts us. Life is so incredibly complicated, it can not be packaged into a box and made simple. Letting go and allowing for the wonder of the unknown is hard.
The heart longs for knowing. To quote Peter Rollins, “To believe is human, to doubt is divine.” A challenge, a goal. After all if you never question, how can you know?
xx my darlings,
A heart filled with mystery
Further reading to consider:
What We Talk About When We Talk About God
A Million Miles In a Thousand Years
