Mystery 2016

January 8, 2016 | by | Personal, Practical Living

It’s 2016 and as I sit here writing I’m aware that I’ve changed quite a bit over the years. I now find comfort and a sense of wonder in mystery. Once upon a time the only way I was at peace and sure of my place was when things could be explained and I had a grasp of what was going on – when life was played between the foul lines of my reason and especially when God was “biblical” and stayed away from curves, throwing only fastballs down the middle. In those days there was only one way to play the game and that was by the book. I had no appreciation for mystery. I had no tolerance or need for it at all. But now, many years later, in 2016 I see more and more how big a role mystery plays in life and especially in the unveiling of the kingdom of God in the world.

I came across a quote that captures for me the wonder, beauty and necessity of mystery…

“It is mystery that saves me. But mystery in earnest, not just puzzle. Mystery as God’s inscrutable way of doing business. Mystery as the way he steers the bicycle of history with his hands in his pockets. Nobody shoved, nothing jimmied; nothing need ever be anything but true to itself. He never even touches the handlebars! Pilate is Pilate, and Caiaphas is Caiaphas; Peter is Peter, and John is John; the soldiers are the soldiers, and the women are themselves; the nails are iron, and the cross is wood. All in their own natures, all acting for themselves: the creatures of a God powerful enough not to have to use inside mystiques or outside clubs; of a God who can afford anything; of a God who can do nothing but hang there and still ride history home no-hands.” (An Offering Of Uncles, by Robert Farrar Capon)

So now I’m older, a bit wiser and a more aware of how the game is played. The world is unraveling and becoming more unpredictable and dangerous each day with no solutions in sight. But instead of despairing I embrace it as part of the mystery of God in Christ at work bringing new creation out of death. And holding on to this mystery I find peace in the middle of the storm.

 

It’s 2016 and as I sit here writing I’m aware that I’ve changed quite a bit over the years. I now find comfort and a sense of wonder in mystery. Once upon a time the only way I was at peace and sure of my place was when things could be explained and I had a grasp of what was going on – when life was played between the foul lines of my reason and especially when God was “biblical” and stayed away from curves, throwing only fastballs down the middle. In those days there was only one way to play the game and that was by the book. I had no appreciation for mystery. I had no tolerance or need for it at all. But now, many years later, in 2016 I see more and more how big a role mystery plays in life and especially in the unveiling of the kingdom of God in the world.

I came across a quote that captures for me the wonder, beauty and necessity of mystery…

“It is mystery that saves me. But mystery in earnest, not just puzzle. Mystery as God’s inscrutable way of doing business. Mystery as the way he steers the bicycle of history with his hands in his pockets. Nobody shoved, nothing jimmied; nothing need ever be anything but true to itself. He never even touches the handlebars! Pilate is Pilate, and Caiaphas is Caiaphas; Peter is Peter, and John is John; the soldiers are the soldiers, and the women are themselves; the nails are iron, and the cross is wood. All in their own natures, all acting for themselves: the creatures of a God powerful enough not to have to use inside mystiques or outside clubs; of a God who can afford anything; of a God who can do nothing but hang there and still ride history home no-hands.” (An Offering Of Uncles, by Robert Farrar Capon)

So now I’m older, a bit wiser and a more aware of how the game is played. The world is unraveling and becoming more unpredictable and dangerous each day with no solutions in sight. But instead of despairing I embrace it as part of the mystery of God in Christ at work bringing new creation out of death. And holding on to this mystery I find peace in the middle of the storm.