Know It All
I am a puzzle freak. I love puzzles, crosswords, logic problems, etc. In addition to being a puzzle freak, I am determined to accomplish things on my own. Puzzle books with answers in the back do not tempt me to cheat and look in the back. Not because I view it as cheating, but because I am determined to do it on my own. I will accept the occasional hint, but never tell me the answer...I much prefer that feeling of accomplishment I get when I finish it on my own, no matter how long it takes me.
This charactor trait has been a strength as well as a weakness. Once in high school our youth group had a scavenger hunt event. The location of the items for our scavenger hunt were given to us in cryptic riddles. This was just for me! Many of us breezed through the riddles until we got to the last one...no one could figure it out. It seems the creators of the riddle were a little to cryptic and abstract. After the event we all gathered together for fun, food, and fellowship. The leaders, knowing that no one was able to figure out the last riddle was offering the answer. I refused to hear, wanting to figure it out on my own. I ended up the rest of that day not participating in the fellowship time being preoccupied trying to solve the puzzle. Not only did I miss out on the fellowship I was never able to figure out the answer. On the way home a friend shared the answer, and my first thought was "That was impossible, no one could ever figure that out".
Have you ever thought about some of the mysteries of God? How can God have always existed? How is "free will" and predestination both possible? How can Jesus be 100% man and 100% God? How can there be a trinity yet just one God? Have you ever found yourself trying with all your might to explain one of these mysteries of God?
We are not expected to be able to answer these questions. The vital issue that that we understand they are true, not how they work. Just like I spent a whole afternoon missing the fellowship with my High School friends trying to solve a riddle, we can spend our whole life missing out on fellowship with God trying to solve his mysteries. I imagine when we are finally reunited with Him and the answers are revealed we will all say "That was impossible, no one could ever figure that out".
We are not commanded to be a know-it-all, only to be obedient. That being said, this week I continued my endeavor to be a know-it-all by starting my Masters Program in Information Systems. Knowledge can be healthy and should be desired. We just need to make sure that we are controlled by having to know everything.
This charactor trait has been a strength as well as a weakness. Once in high school our youth group had a scavenger hunt event. The location of the items for our scavenger hunt were given to us in cryptic riddles. This was just for me! Many of us breezed through the riddles until we got to the last one...no one could figure it out. It seems the creators of the riddle were a little to cryptic and abstract. After the event we all gathered together for fun, food, and fellowship. The leaders, knowing that no one was able to figure out the last riddle was offering the answer. I refused to hear, wanting to figure it out on my own. I ended up the rest of that day not participating in the fellowship time being preoccupied trying to solve the puzzle. Not only did I miss out on the fellowship I was never able to figure out the answer. On the way home a friend shared the answer, and my first thought was "That was impossible, no one could ever figure that out".
Have you ever thought about some of the mysteries of God? How can God have always existed? How is "free will" and predestination both possible? How can Jesus be 100% man and 100% God? How can there be a trinity yet just one God? Have you ever found yourself trying with all your might to explain one of these mysteries of God?
We are not expected to be able to answer these questions. The vital issue that that we understand they are true, not how they work. Just like I spent a whole afternoon missing the fellowship with my High School friends trying to solve a riddle, we can spend our whole life missing out on fellowship with God trying to solve his mysteries. I imagine when we are finally reunited with Him and the answers are revealed we will all say "That was impossible, no one could ever figure that out".
We are not commanded to be a know-it-all, only to be obedient. That being said, this week I continued my endeavor to be a know-it-all by starting my Masters Program in Information Systems. Knowledge can be healthy and should be desired. We just need to make sure that we are controlled by having to know everything.
Comments
I am enjoying you blog and learning some things that I did not know. I know you are a puzzle freak, but not the entire youth group story. Of course, since day 1 you have always had an "I can do it myself attitude."
Great to be so excited about school! Your attitude will serve you well.
Love, Mom