"God is unlimited. Thought and language are limited.
God is the fathomless but beautiful Mystery Who creates the universe and you and me, and sustains it and us every instant, and always shall. The instant we define this fathomless Mystery, It is no longer fathomless. To define is to limit. The greater a person's confidence in their definition of God, the more sure I feel that their worship of "Him" has become the worship of their own definition." -David James Duncan
Holy cow. I love David James Duncan. I hug his book. I am putting aside imminent responsibilities right now to read God Laughs and Plays. Thanks, Molly. I blame it on you.
But really, as I read, I find myself thinking, "Hey, you are stealing my thoughts!" And I am not narcissistic to think my own thoughts are original, but it is definitely refreshing to see my own wanderings and questions put into so many words. He's such a good writer.
"Like grace, wonder defies rational analysis. Discursive thought can bring nothing to an object of wonder. Thought at best just circumambulates the object, the way a devout pilgrim circles Golgotha, the Bo Tree, Wounded Knee, the Kaabah. Wonder is not an obligatory element in the search for truth. We can seek truth without wonder’s assistance–but seek is all we can do: there will be no finding. Until wonder descends, unlocks us, turns us slack-jawed as a plastic shepherd, truth is unable to enter. Wonder may be the aura of truth, the halo of it. Or something even closer. Wonder may be the caress of truth, touching our very skin." -David James Duncan
Sigh.
Listen.
2 comments:
God is a beautiful mystery. He is a mystery becuase we will never exhaust the complexity of His being. This is what will make eternitiy with Him so incredible. We will learn more and more about Him every day, be in continual awe over what we see in Him and find endless joy in Him forever. He is beautiful because of what He has already revealed of Himself. In our men's Bible study we continually find ourselves amazed at the truths we learn as we study His character. I find myself saying with Paul, "I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His suffering becomeing like Him in His death" - but the more I learn of Him the more I find myself echoing the words of Romans 11, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" Incredible!
Can I hug this book with you?
Post a Comment