There are times when I, or someone else posts something that makes others uncomfortable. The discomfort stemming from the truth. I think Bill Moyer expressed that best when he said: " We seem to prefer a comfortable lie to the uncomfortable truth. We punish those who point out reality and reward those who provide us with the comfort of illusion. Reality is fearsome but experience tells us that more fearsome yet is evading it. " I couldn't agree more. I am often derided for telling the truth and that truth is denied by others but that doesn't change reality. As we say, it is what it is. The truth can be uncomfortable that much is certain. Another gentleman pointed out that, " the only time you are actually growing is when you are uncomfortable. " I can certainly understand the truth in that statement. Think growing pains for the mind. We need to examine our beliefs closely to know what we believe. Often what we agree with is not necessarily the truth, but rather, what we are comfortable believing. The reasons for that are many.
Recently I found myself uncomfortable with the closing of the church doors. It is because it strikes at the heart of faith. It is uncomfortable. Reality tells me that we should do so, to protect ourselves and others from spreading this virus. Still, at the heart of it you do have to ask yourself how absolute is your faith that God will protect you? And it is in that I find an incongruency. I've had this explained by some saying, God gave us a brain to use and we should use it. In fact, if we don't we are actually going against his will. I'm aware of the Biblical story of Jesus being tempted by Satan and the lesson was, you should not test God. That's certainly pragmatic advice. If one is to believe that every word written in the Bible is the word of God you would have to heed that advice. Fact is doing otherwise would be displeasing to God. So is that how we reconcile reality and faith?
Faith requires no validation, no proof of any kind. Yet in the Bible story when the disciples were in that boat during a storm Jesus admonished them saying, Oh Ye of Little Faith, after he spoke and the storm subsided. Did he not provide proof of his divinity? Did he not also speak to Thomas showing him the holes in hands and the wound in his side as proof that it was he? But that wasn't testing God was it. No, that was teaching a lesson. And what is the lesson to be learned? Have faith. trust in God. But is our trust supposed to be limited by reason? Indeed do we trust only as long as it is safe to do so? That is the uncomfortable reality.
Now I'm not saying what is right or wrong. I'm just saying these are my thoughts on this particular subject. There is nothing wrong with questioning. No growth can take place without that. Just as T. Eker said, the only time you are growing is when you are uncomfortable. Growth isn't changing your mind, growth is gaining understanding. Peace of mind can only be achieved through understanding, through an acceptance of truth. Each of us have our own truth which we must reconcile with reality. Faith can be that vehicle but then that faith would have to be absolute. Absolute truth? Is there such a thing? Can absolute faith and absolute truth co-exist? Something to think about.
Recently I found myself uncomfortable with the closing of the church doors. It is because it strikes at the heart of faith. It is uncomfortable. Reality tells me that we should do so, to protect ourselves and others from spreading this virus. Still, at the heart of it you do have to ask yourself how absolute is your faith that God will protect you? And it is in that I find an incongruency. I've had this explained by some saying, God gave us a brain to use and we should use it. In fact, if we don't we are actually going against his will. I'm aware of the Biblical story of Jesus being tempted by Satan and the lesson was, you should not test God. That's certainly pragmatic advice. If one is to believe that every word written in the Bible is the word of God you would have to heed that advice. Fact is doing otherwise would be displeasing to God. So is that how we reconcile reality and faith?
Faith requires no validation, no proof of any kind. Yet in the Bible story when the disciples were in that boat during a storm Jesus admonished them saying, Oh Ye of Little Faith, after he spoke and the storm subsided. Did he not provide proof of his divinity? Did he not also speak to Thomas showing him the holes in hands and the wound in his side as proof that it was he? But that wasn't testing God was it. No, that was teaching a lesson. And what is the lesson to be learned? Have faith. trust in God. But is our trust supposed to be limited by reason? Indeed do we trust only as long as it is safe to do so? That is the uncomfortable reality.
Now I'm not saying what is right or wrong. I'm just saying these are my thoughts on this particular subject. There is nothing wrong with questioning. No growth can take place without that. Just as T. Eker said, the only time you are growing is when you are uncomfortable. Growth isn't changing your mind, growth is gaining understanding. Peace of mind can only be achieved through understanding, through an acceptance of truth. Each of us have our own truth which we must reconcile with reality. Faith can be that vehicle but then that faith would have to be absolute. Absolute truth? Is there such a thing? Can absolute faith and absolute truth co-exist? Something to think about.
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