Eyes To See

This post is going to be a combination of two days of journal entry. Somehow they end up running together in idea and worldview shaping.

January 21, 2011:

Identity is a huge thing in our culture, in any culture really. Men and women look to a multitude of things to help shape their identities and define themselves. In a secular mindset, there really is no problem with this, because there cannot be any real, concrete evidence of identity because culture and trends are constantly shifting and changing. That is why you have people literally changing their entire appearances over college breaks. Sad, really. 

When there is no framework for identity, you end up with a culture that is completely lost within their own selves, constantly searching for purpose merely philosophically. The main problem with this is that every bit of the fabrics of life are sewn in such a way that they reveal deeply the creativity of a Great Creator full of infinite fountains of joy, peace, virtue, etc. My heart grieves that I play into this same weird game of trying to define myself outside of who I am in Christ, that I am made in the image of Creator God (Imago Dei) and at almost every level of my very existence there are objective evidences of this truth. 

God, make me see. 

January 23, 2011:

I desire to be constantly reminded of the inescapeable, inherent beauty all around me, and that every bit of it points outside of itself. Whether it be the way a string of notes matches with a beautiful voice, or the creativity behind snowfall, or the very character of a Triune God coming out in the normal community of friendships and relationships that are constantly all around me, but rarely seen for what they truly represent and point toward. I want to see more of God. I hate that I take my eyes off of Him and see a tree as nothing but a tree, or a conversation between friends at the table near mine in this coffee shop as just a conversation. 

The theology behind the Trinity is one that makes even the most intellectual thinker's head explode. No one can fully comprehend the mystery behind the Triune nature of the Godhead, but nevertheless there is a mystical beauty to this deep root of our faith. One thing that I have been thinking about is how we often look right past revealing truths of who God is and how He is making himself known to us in creation. For example, I have been pondering for the last hour or so how the connection of friendship and communal relationship does not exist just because we are lonely and need someone to talk to. As Christians, we know that all things point outside of themselves in one way or another to reveal the truth of the creativity of God. In community, it is no different. I see the same kind of inter-connectedness within the Trinity that I see in deep, rich friendship. There is a sharing of information, love, joy, and creativity that explodes out of any good communal relationship. Is this not what happened and is still happening within the Trinity?

I cannot write further on this subject at this time, because my hand hurts and there are sixteen pages of notes for me to read and study over for a quiz on Monday. Regardless, let all of this sink in and saturate your thoughts, if nothing else let it exercise your brain, I know it certainly is giving mine quite the workout.

Father, give me eyes...