... And ...

It is often by reading some thoughts of others that sets us off at a tangent with some thoughts of our own.  The meditations of Richard Rohr often have that affect on me.  Last week he was referring to our faith and belief systems as Yes, And ... and looked at the word 'and' and what that conjures up in our minds.  And so my thoughts began to dwell on this small word that is so often just used as a linking word between different parts of a sentence.  When I started seriously to consider this small, seemingly insignificant word, I realised that it can have quite significant properties of its own and often change the whole idea of the sentence.


The word 'and' leaves a space for more to be added.  It reminded me of the Irish comedian, Jimmy Cricket who during his act used to approach the edge of the stage and beckon to the audience saying, 'But wait, there's more!' and then continue to expand on his story.  The problem with many Christians is that as they seek to convince others that they have the truth about God (and they often do) they can forget that God is so much bigger than what they can understand.  We so often want to confine Him to our understanding and forget that there is so much more to Him than any mere mortal can possibly understand.  So in my beliefs I need to learn to say 'This is what I believe - Yes, and... ... there's more'.



'And', to me also conjures up the idea of an open door.  As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I cannot understand the totality of God or His ways so I need to leave the 'And' door open and learn to accept that my way of thinking might not be the only way.  As I have said many times before - no-one has the monopoly of truth.  We all see and understand in different ways.  Who am I to say that because someone thinks a little differently from me that they are wrong and I am right.  As God is so big and beyond my understanding, is it not possible that maybe we could both have elements of truth in our different ways of thinking?  It is sad that there exists so much intolerance among people of faith when really their lives should be showing the opposite.  This is not to water down my faith but to accept that I don't know everything and that God's love is all-embracing.


This led me to thinking about Jesus and how He seemed to deliberately seek out those whom the religious of His day perceived as undesirable.  The mish mash of characters among His closest friends - the hot headed Peter, the dreamer John, the tax collector Matthew, the doubter Thomas, the zealot  Judas ... ... and so on.  Jesus sought out people like the lepers (the social outcasts) Zacchaeus who collected money for the enemy, the adulterous woman and told stories like the Good Samaritan praising a Samaritan who was considered by the Jews to be unworthy of God's loving attention.  All such people felt comfortable in His presence while the religious people looked on them with disdain and contempt.  I wonder how many people on the edges of today's society feel welcomed and comfortable in a Christian group?  The open door of 'And' means that all are welcome in His Kingdom.

'And' the small word that can open up a whole new way of thinking.  Do I have Christian beliefs?  Yes, And ... ...