3 Great Mysteries
If you’re ever bored, know that it’s just because you’re not thinking. You do understand that, right? I have three sons. Whenever they said, “We’re bored,” I’d say, “There’s the broom. It’s for bored people, and there’s lots of stuff to sweep. You’ll find that while you’re sweeping, there are a million things to think about.”
Don’t sit there doing nothing. That doesn’t cause your mind to transcend; it dulls your mind instead. It makes you less fit. Get the broom and start sweeping. When you do, your mind will relax, and the intuitive parts of your mind—the dream parts, the creative parts—will start running wild.
In our lives, there are three great mysteries to explore every day:
1. The mystery of God and his universe. Every day we can explore the mystery of the universe. All humans love to look up at the sky. By wondering about the sky, humans have figured out planetary motion and gravitational force; they have discovered other planets and how to possibly travel there. The ones who have committed their lives to understanding this mystery have said, “We’re going to figure it out even if we die trying.” And when they figure out one thing, they learn there’s much more to know.
Each day, try to understand more of the mystery of God and his universe: “God, teach me something about you and your universe that I do not know.” You’ll be doing that into eternity. He will reveal aspects of himself you never knew.
2. The mystery of you. Trust me, you do not know yourself. If you did, you would be doing amazing things. The way you think of yourself is way too small. The way we think of the universe is way too small. Each day, try to understand more of the mystery of you: “God, teach me something about myself that I do not know.” In Psalm 139, David says, in so many words, “God, search me and know me, and reveal any wicked or offensive way in me, and then lead me in a new way. Lead me in the way of everlasting every day” (see vv. 23–24 AMP). What hinders you from living like this?
Once the false self is gone, you are free to become more than you can ask or imagine.
3. The mystery of others. Consider the mystery of other people in your world—your kids, spouse, neighbors. Try to figure them out. After thirty-six years, I’m still working on the mystery of my wife. I’ve known her since she was nineteen, and she’s a beautiful mystery to me. My children are each a beautiful though sometimes troubling mystery to me. I love the journey with them, and with Muslims and my neighbors and many others. Each day, try to understand more of the mystery of others: “God, teach me something about someone else that I do not know.”
Here’s the problem for most people: in the false self, we don’t care about the universe or others, which means we don’t care about ourselves. Ask the Lord each day, “Teach me something about another person on my street.”
- Jamie Winship. “Living Fearless.”
