Reflections at 39,000 feet
On my way back from Mexico, I was next to a couple from Indiana. When they first sat down, the man began to read the Psalms. I could see that his Bible was well worn and marked on every page. To start the conversation, I said, “Are you reading that book because you are afraid of flying or because it has other purposes in your life?” That opening resulted in a two hour discussion, complete with Powerpoint presentation, of rabbinic exegesis, Hebraic backgrounds to common verses and a genuine dialogue about the place of faith in the lives of believers. You might think that I was thrilled to be able to share such topics on the way to Dallas, but what I realized is that this man had much more to teach me. I was struck by the fact that he clearly spent a good portion of his life simply reading God’s words. It really didn’t matter that he didn’t quite understand the linguistic nuances, the paradigm shifts and the translation issues. He loved to read God’s instructions. He rejoiced in the privilege of pouring through Scripture.
And I realized that I spend far too much time thinking about all this and far too little time just absorbing what God said.
As you know, I am fascinated by the complexity of it all. I can dig into a single word for hours. I can connect a single phrase as if it were just one strand of an enormous tapestry – and it is, by the way. But I know that I don’t spend enough time just sitting in God’s thoughts. Not thinking, just floating, just drifting with Him.
The dialogue we have as fellow travelers on the Way is exciting and stimulating, but I don’t want to forget that when I arrive at the throne God will probably not ask me how many books I read (or wrote). He is much more likely to ask me how much I absorbed from the life He gave me. He is probably much more interested in my experience of awe and wonder than in my theological articulation. So, with that in mind, I’ll go sit for awhile. Thanks.
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And everyone said, “Amen, amen “
It was so good to read you Skip, it’s all about being human as you’ve been teaching us. Shalom brother. God bless
Ditto the AMEN!
Truth spoken here! A handful on purpose. Thank you.
Indeed!
🙂
great big thumbs up and cyber hug to you from a stranger who appreciates you 🙂
Nice reflection Skip. God bless you for sharing your thoughts with us.
Best words so far this year! Thanks
Amen!
THANK YOU!! I can return to reading scripture without feeling I have to KNOW everything!!
Sounds like a WIN/WIN for BOTH of you! 🙂
One thing that has been on my heart for the past two weeks was something I read from Abraham Joshua Heschel a couple of years ago. Yet even though i read it so long ago i still struggle with its application.
He said “the Greeks learned in order to comprehend. The Hebrews learned in order to revere”
This statement perplexes me as i try to learn what it means to think from a Hebraic perspective and “revere” God’s word rather than just comprehend it. I too get caught up in the excitement of learning and sometimes miss the joy of the journey.
So Skip, i will say to you what you so often say to mean, “think Hebrew” 🙂
Since the age of 13 I have just loved to read Yah’s word every day (62 next month). I cant imagine not being able to do that. How great that you both learned something. YAH is so good in how he connects us with people on our journey and we learn to reflect on something and perhaps make a few changes so that we may bask in his presence and just enjoy his amazing word. thanks for sharing it Skip
Christine
These are words of course-correction…thank you. My wife and I, on our homestead, try to live simply and harmoniously with the land. Sometimes the chores and seasonal work are very great. Sometimes we find ourselves so involved with the “things that need to be done” that we forget to just stop, look around, and marvel that we are so blessed to live where we do. A wise elder once told us, “Sometimes God gives you a lot of blessings, just to see what you’ll do with them all.” Land or Words of life–we can’t neglect appreciation of them.
” I can dig into a single word for hours. I can connect a single phrase as if it were just one strand of an enormous tapestry – and it is, by the way.”
Hi Skip,
It’s a great gift you have, what would we do without it? 🙂 🙂
As you know, I am fascinated by the complexity of it all. I can dig into a single word for hours. I can connect a single phrase as if it were just one strand of an enormous tapestry – and it is, by the way. But I know that I don’t spend enough time just sitting in God’s thoughts. Not thinking, just floating, just drifting with Him.
The dialogue we have as fellow travelers on the Way is exciting and stimulating, but I don’t want to forget that when I arrive at the throne God will probably not ask me how many books I read (or wrote). He is much more likely to ask me how much I absorbed from the life He gave me. He is probably much more interested in my experience of awe and wonder than in my theological articulation. So, with that in mind, I’ll go sit for awhile. Thanks.
I have an opposite problem. I know stuff that I can’t explain. So perhaps Skip, if we are all in community, we will learn from each other. I KNOW that you have the writing down. I KNOW I can’t do what you do. However, when you talk about Jewish stuff, or I read Heschel I hear Gram’s voice and remember the stories and situations in my life where the worldview underscored the events. I just can’t figure out why everyone else doesn’t SEE it. As you said, the reason is that I grew up in a Jewish environment. All I did was suck up the life. I learned Christianity through a Jewish grid, feeling weird the entire time. But what good is that if I can’t write about it? I guess we all need each other huh?
Yes.
May the lampstand warm you!! We will follow you beyond the veil, permission to be His obsession is very costly, but priceless.
I pray the mysteries be revealed to you, and the secret of the golden fire illuminate the journey.
You are opening a portal for your readers-thank you!
Dr. Moen,
This brought to my mind Whitman’s poem “When I Heard The Learn’d Astronomer”. I had the huge privilege of sitting in on a seminar by Blues legend Fred McDowell. Someone asked him about progressions and chord substitutions. He said he didn’t know about that stuff. The music just went from his head through his heart to his fingers. Sometimes we need to return to the simple. There were no rabbis or theologians among the 12 and they did a pretty good job of spreading the word.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t study and exegite, but sometimes we just need to go back and read.