Eyes to See

In Subversive Spirituality, Eugene Peterson begins with this statement:

"We are accustomed to believing that the Holy Spirit inspired the content of the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16), but it is just as true that the form itself is inspired, this new literary form that we call the gospel." (p5)

Peterson is reminding us that it's not just the "truths" that are true; the forms in which they are given are also inspired. God speaks to us in a form that is perfectly crafted to convey precisely what he intends. This isn't just true of Scripture - it's true of all creation. God says everything points us back to him, it tells us of his glory. God gives us all our senses, and then he invites us to see! hear! taste! touch!

God speaks to us through images - the bread and the wine of his supper, the sunset outside my window - and God speaks to us through story. In short, he does not come simply to engage our intellect; he comes to engage us heart, soul, mind, and strength. He will have all of us; he will settle for nothing less.

Peterson says something else as well:

"The moment we formulate our doctrines, draw up our moral codes, and throw ourselves into a life of ministry apart from a continuous re-immersion in the story itself, we walk right out of the presence of God and set up our own shop."

He's right too. This is not to say our doctrine is not important - it's vital. But we can know all the "facts" about God and still miss out on a relationship with him.

I've been thinking a lot about my own relationship with Christ these past few days. We're at that point in the school year where the demands of this life start squeezing the joy out of my soul. And surprisingly, this has actually been a blessing, because it's forced me to think about what I really want - relationship with God; fellowship and friendship with him.

And in the midst of all this, I've realized that the pressure is not really the problem - that's just the vehicle which brings my sin to the surface. What I really need is to figure out how to draw near to God in the midst of the whirlwhind. So that's what I'm going to be focusing on over these coming months. Reconnecting with God in his story.

Of course it won't be easy. It may even require some extreme measures, because relationship takes time, and that's the one thing I never have enough of. But it should be interesting, to say the least.

I know already that I need to adjust my priorities - both with school and with blogging. That probably means less writing between now and the end of May. It also means I need to rethink my study habits - I have spent years training myself to be a very good student, and I may need to actually unlearn some of those habits now. School is important, but it's not most important.

At this point, I need to see more of Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith (Heb 12:2). I want to engage my senses in the God who is speaking to me. I want to know him, talk with him, be engaged by him. I don't see him nearly as well as I desire, but I do see him, and I long for more. He has promised to reveal himself, and I am looking forward to the journey.

Lord, give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that is drawn to you!