Dear People Whom God Loves,
The same thing happens in more subtle matters when we get older. We think that the way that we think about something is the whole picture. Our minds tend to be frozen and because we think we have the whole truth, we have nothing to learn. We then see the other person’s perspective as all wrong and even that the other person is stupid or even bad.
As matters become more complicated, the danger increases. I believe that one of the reasons why we don’t grow out of this trap is that it seems to make life simpler. We don’t have to think new thoughts. We don’t have to evaluate. We don’t have to struggle with new information. Trapped in our little shell, we can hurt a lot of people and feel quite good about ourselves.
As we move into more powerful positions, we do even more harm.
I find that this becomes a much more serious problem in religion. We can know something about God and that is very valuable. But we are very limited in what we can know about God. We need to be humble about how closely what we know resembles the truth. We need to be even more humble about “what we know about God” resembles the truth.
I see it as essential that we continually learn from people who are different from us…from people who think and believe differently. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have convictions and beliefs. It does mean, I think, that our convictions and beliefs will deepen and more closely resemble what is true. This is very hard for me. I hope to keep growing in this regard. I know that it will only take place by the grace of God.
When I proclaim that I have the truth, be wary of me. It doesn’t mean that I am wise. It just means that I am quite blind.
Smile, God Loves You,
Father Clay
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