Its a couple days after christmas. Lots of wine, presents, visiting and fun. Of course Christmas brings some melancholy also. Its the passing of another year. My folks are in their late 70's and eighties and I myself will be 60 this year. My children have children and well..time is just flying.
We had some goof faith discussions around the fireplace this year. My agnostic and slightly inebriated aand beloved Uncle Bob (every family has one) wanted to talk about faith and how we (my Dad and I) could possibly believe such stuff..
My dad who has fought 5 cancers in the last decade and now suffers from small cell lung cancer decided to field the question. I must say he did so eloquently and with dignity. He calmly laid out the evidence of design theory. This is essentially the age old argument that a universe of such complexity of design could hardly be an accident. However he quickly added that that is no proof and that faith is necessary no matter how much proof there is.
I laid low in the discussion only quickly adding that the bond and love we feel for those around us must speak of a higher order than simply an infinite accident of coincidental atom splitting.
My uncle remarked that he really respected my Dads quiet words.
This made me think a bit about my own faith. I have been actively believing in Jesus for 40 years. Some parts do come easier. I do trust that Jesus is watching out for me and that whatever new situation I come into that i am not alone. however i still have to start from nothing. There is no proof and i have to dig in and believe.
The most difficult part for me is that the old earth keeps on rumbling along with no outward visible evidence of the divine, He is perfectly happy to keep his mouth shut
and remain the annonymous benefactor; dispensing sunshine and rain for all. Most of us are born with parents who love us and our basic needs are met. Obviously there are troubling exceptions to that rule.
When He does appear its as a refugee baby in a far off land born to a peasant girl in a barn. I, who have believed for 40 years, still struggle with this random story of the revelation and incarnation of the creator of all.
I sat next to my stepdaughter in church as the minister told the Bethlehem baby story on Christmas eve. I turned to her and said this story is so preposterous it must be true!
