Augustine--
the great Christian philosopher,
theologian
and Church father--
called the Bible:
a book of mysteries.
And so it is.
We are often more comfortable
without the mystery,
preferring our scripture interpretation
easy, straightforward and neatly packaged,
as in,
"Here's what it means,
and that's all it means."
But scripture is scripture
because it refuses to be constrained,
ever offering increasing layers of meaning
each time one returns
to sit with the stories and sayings,
the songs and poems,
the rich and complex imagery.
We do the Bible a disservice
(or perhaps abuse it)
when we attempt to bind it
to simple, singular meanings.
Allow the Bible to be
the great book of mysteries
it has always been meant to be.
Bring your patience,
your curiosity,
your imagination (most definitely!)
your openness...
and be amazed...
again...
and again...
and again.
Yes, that story could mean that
(and likely does)
but what else?
Get back on the elevator
and push the buttons that weren't there before...
there's a basement beneath the basement...
and one beneath that...
how is it possible,
that new floors show up
each time you board?
A glorious, unending book of mysteries.
The further you go,
the more wonders you find.
What unique, invigorating, unsettling,
liberating wonders await?
Text and image © 2020 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
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