Dale Cresap's blog

What do you do with your moments of transcendence? Some people would claim to live in this state continuously, but all but  the most hardened skeptics will have moments that are too large to fit in the narrative of ordinary life and business as usual. Even unbelievers are moved by great music and other works of art, by extraordinary beauty in the natural world, and by the experience of or even stories of great suffering or self-sacrifice. What about believers? Does a transcendent world view guarantee that you will have a frame of reference large enough to comprehend these things?

Do you believe in holy ground? In ancient times it was assumed that I had an address the same way that you do. When Jacob spent the night at a random place in the middle of nowhere he was surprised to find that I was camping with him. He wasn’t expecting that since the doctrine of omnipresence had not been developed. Do you accept that some places are holy and others not? What about houses of worship? Could it be the intention of the people who gather there that makes it so? Perhaps there is more to that concept than to geographical grid coordinates.

Do you view growth in your life in terms of acquisitions and additions? Have you ever seen a great sculpture? These works of art start out as large blocks and the sculptor works by taking away everything that doesn’t belong in the finished product. Can you reverse the polarity of your growth paradigm and consider that you already have everything that you need, so further growth is facilitated by taking away things that you already have that are a hindrance to you? What are you willing to part with to improve? The master sculptor knows what needs to go.

Do you use the terms jealousy and envy interchangeably? Most people do, but these are separate concepts. Envy is covetousness of something belonging to someone else. Jealousy is possessiveness of something belonging to you. Can envy ever be good? It implies a lack of contentment with what is already yours, and learning contentment will be easier for you than obtaining an endless sequence of acquisitions that do not satisfy you. Is jealousy ever justifiable? You refer to me as a jealous God rather than an envious God and this statement reflects a correct usage of the terms.

Are you familiar with optical illusions? These are images made to distort your perception so things do not appear to be the way they really are. This concept extends beyond contrived images and parlor stunts. Can you see clearly and understand things that are right in front of you? Have you ever misinterpreted things that were in plain sight? Perhaps a better term for this would be optical delusions. Your overall worldview affects your perceptions.

What are your distinctives in the faith? Even within a unified Body of Christ, different churches, and on a smaller scale, individuals, have unique gifts and talents that enable them to contribute to the functioning of the whole body. This is illustrated in the scriptures by reference to one body with many members, and each has its own contribution, and each one should be content with the mission given to it and not jealous of the other members. Then the body functions effectively as an integrated team, lacking nothing. Do you know what your distinctives are?

Do you find that intelligence is highly rated and a measure of social standing in your culture? Rationalism has been the governing system for centuries and it is well established. But have you noticed that beyond a certain level that other factors have equal or greater effect? Do you think people are held back more by lack of cognitive ability, or by fear, insecurity, ideology, biased preconceptions, habits and addictions, and other hindrances to comprehending the truth? How many people are truly not smart enough to lead a good life if they are free of these other things?

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you find them hard to keep? Calendar dates are rather arbitrary in the continuous cycle of time. Yet have you had enduring changes in your life? What brought them about? Have you found that you are more likely to change if the decision is accompanied by an intense emotional experience or trauma? This may be something positive like transcendence or epiphany, but negative experiences of this type work equally well. Do you exert every effort to avoid such experiences? Perhaps this is working against your long-term growth.

Where do you get validation? Do you know anyone who doesn’t thrive on affirmation of their existence and humanity?  Do you know of anyone who gets as much as they want? Have you met people who get little or none, and try to generate it on their own? This is a sad thing to watch. Is this something you can do on your own at all? Doesn’t it require input from others to be valid validation? Where do you go if you don’t get enough? Those who are rejected by this world have a special incentive to seek the Kingdom of God, for they have no reward here.

By observing nature do you see that growth is a process that takes time? This is a universal pattern. Is it an article of faith for you that salvation occurs in an instant? But these are different concepts. Have you noticed in yourself and others that spiritual growth takes time, just like every other form of growth? You can plant and water others and yourself, and you should strive for favorable conditions, but even under the best of circumstances time is still required. Be patient. This process takes a lifetime. Trust me to complete the good work I have begun in you.