Henri J. M. Nouwen captures the whole existential experience of man in these beautiful words:One way to express the spiritual crisis of our time is to say most of us have an address but cannot be found there.This is his meaning:If a fellow tells you he lives at #5 Quincys avenue,off Rogers street,in Dinas town,and every time you go to look for him there,he is not at home,would you not be inclined to conclude that the address he gave you is fake?That is exactly what is happening in our time!We have deserted our homes!The reason for that is captured marvelously by James Thwaites,the author of The Church Beyond The Congregation.He says,Life is complex.We are all a mixed philosophical bag,often believing one thing because of our creed but doing another because of our need.What a punch line!As I come across such statements in my readings,Im forced to sit back and put my own life before me like a giant screen,and wonder at its utter complexity!There is no one person who consistently behaves his belief.We betray ourselves sometimes,and He in whom we believe.But the generality and community of the challenge does not alleviate the particular and individual impact it has on us all.How can we invite people to an address we ourselves cannot be found at?The challenge to consistently live our creed has caused the world to doubt our message;because it does not know the difference between the message and the messenger.And because our Way represents and demands the highest standard of morality,most having found it difficult,have left it untried.They have taken sides with the mocker and the oppressor;they jeer at us,and like an angry mob,attack us like we have just finished sleeping with their wives.There must be the talking in response to them,because anywhere the whisper of falsehood is heard,truth should shout at its voices peak!But more is required!After all,Richard Wheeler had a point when he said To give evidence to him who love not the truth is only to give him more plentiful material for misinterpretation.So beyond the talking,our most potent defense against mockery is to live the truth,to live like the people we say that we are. Please,lets go home-the world is waiting at our addresses!After all,there is no place like home!
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 09:01:57 +0000
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