Not Centered

When we center our story in the universe, it seems to incline us to a defensive posture. If I live in one separate, independent story where my values, my wants and needs, my perspective, and how I perceive truth are central (this reminds me of the Christian illustration of the throne in the middle of my heart), then any perspective I encounter in which I am not the center is at least in conflict with mine and at worst an existential threat. 

The irony is that as the protagonist of God’s story, God’s greatest want is relationship with us. It appears from the evidence that their desire has always been to draw us into their story. To call us, friend, brother, sister, partner (bride), son, daughter, and neighbor. The story of creation, the flood, Babel, Jonah, Abraham, Moses, David, and all the prophets centers humans as the greatest value. They point to God's deep desire to live in one unified universal story with us. 

We stupidly, selfishly, and continually resist. 

And then, using the deepest magic in the universe, God became one of us. This was not the first time he became matter. “The Word” in the beginning was flesh - how all things were made. But this time, God showed up as a vulnerable human. I suspect it was not to illustrate perfection, “I’ll show ya how it’s done,” but to help us understand God’s inexplicable desire and the truth of our reality. Manifested in the body, mind, and heart of Jesus was the central truth that we are at the center of God's story and they want us at the center of theirs. Jesus was God's proof and the Christ mystery is, as Paul said, that what God offers (called the Gospel by Christians) is already reality for everyone. 


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Please let me say once again, I do not write with authority but with wonder and curiosity. I have experienced and observed and I spent my first 40+ years in the Christian Church. So, it’s what I know. This story may be mythical and it may be true. Mythical and true are not necessarily opposites. I think it’s useful either way unless it is used to oppress. I am not claiming any exclusivity for the Christian institution and I’m quite upset about the condition it is in now. My interest is in the concept of belonging as seen in the patterns of the universe and how it applies to humans in relationship with each other, ourselves, the world, and probably with God. Deconstruction is only one part of a larger process. This is some of mine. I hope it is helpful, inspiring, and encouraging.