#understanging

[ellipsisofmymind]

Sometimes you need to let the rain get your hair wet... Sometimes you need to let the wind get your hair messy...

Adaptation from Korean saying

[marylikesbagels-blog-blog]

The Joy in Forgetting

I never paid much attention to my memory until I found things I actually wanted to learn.  When I decided to study Theology, I was anxious to absorb every bit of knowledge like a sponge, only to find that a wet sponge is also a dripping sponge: it cannot retain everything.

The engaged student, such as I consider myself to be, opens a book or steps into a classroom expecting to find treasures. But if one has a poor memory, she can marvel at the treasures as they sparkle, but she cannot take them with her. The blessing of a good memory means the ability to take all the treasures of your education and store them up as your own possession.

The limitations of my memory have made me constantly aware of it.  But in the spiritual life, I have discovered what I call the Joy in Forgetting. The Joy in Forgetting can be summed up in this parable of Jesus:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Mt 13:44).

As I meditate upon passages of scripture which I have read many times before, I am always amazed at how quickly I had forgotten what I once knew.  As frustrating as it is to forget, it allows for the constant joy of discovery.  Every story, every psalm, every discourse is fresh. 

This happens in prayer too. There are things that I have known for so long; but when I hear them spoken to my heart from the mouth of God, they are like words I have never heard before.  

Or perhaps, I am walking about prayerfully, when suddenly I stop, look at the sky, and exclaim silently: "Wow! It's blue!"--as though I had forgotten that they sky had a color. In prayer, the simplest truths become Divine Revelation.  

All of our faculties were weakened in the Fall.  I think the folly of a fallen memory is the assumption that we have knowledge. Adam and Eve sought knowledge; but rather than waiting, in humility, to be taught; they reached out and stole.  Thus, the price of the Fall was not knowledge, but ignorance.  At least Adam and Eve knew they knew not; now, mankind thinks he knows all. Shakespeare describes this paradox best: "A fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."

In Christ, even our intellectual faculties like the memory are redeemed. The frustration of forgetfulness is transformed into the joy of surprise. The Joy in Forgetting is that the Gospel is always new, always extraordinary, always unfamiliar.  

To be a Christian, I have found, is to be astounded every day of your life.  It does not mean a life of credulity, but a life of wonder.  It is to receive knowledge always as a gift; not as a possession earned or stolen.  It is a life-long game of hide and seek; and it is worth selling all of your possessions just to play.

[janetiana]

I can't understand people seeing something they can't understand without desire to understand.

[reily-snodgrass]

Thoughts for 9/19/12

Today while I was talking to one of my friends, and we brought up something that (in my opinion) is one of the worst things I know to exist. People judging one another. I know it may not sound like much at first but it has lots of effects that many people may over look. First of all when someone judges another person it is mostly because they look different than that person. I see multiple things wrong with that. One of them being that the person judging the other doesn't even try to get to know that person being judged. They could be one of the nicest people they will ever meet, but to bad they won't meet because one is a different race or is wearing odd clothing. Why should it matter? They are still the same person no matter how they express themselves.  Also, I know a person who doesn't want to be friends with someone because of what they started doing, even though they were already friends. I don't understand this is at all. They are still the same person, it still shouldn't matter. Also, (I am a victim of this) many people think they know how I feel based on how other people react. Sure, I get this one. But they don't know how I really feel and they believe me when I say otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I tell them the truth; I'm not one for lies. I really wish they would just listen to me, it would make things so much easier. So just remember what I say the next time you call someone stupid or weird before you meet them. What do they think of you? Are you any better then they are if you don't even give them a chance? Are you being headstrong or do you have a skull of diamonds? Consider asking yourself these questions before you meet someone, or while you are talking to someone.

[throughthelight]