Few care to listen to those who come late to the party of internet discussions. The topic tempts passions only for a moment, days at best. Come late to the thread and nobody cares; the thread is dead, only to be revived once again in another context, another drama. It seems little is ever learned or solved in voicing our views, just vented venom or frustration. All do it I presume to support some dogma. Some are happy either to confirm or to increase their professed circle of reason; others compete to deflate the wicked doctrines of another.
At first glance it may seem judicious to look at life this way. Consider that most unbelievers view existence of purpose in meaningful circles of rational reason or strength. They live in subjective small circles or big circles, always competing; the victor must express eloquently or fight ruthlessly to enlarge their portion. For some their words must be considered important in their field, for the others their power lies in self-importance. A true genius they say must be published or at least celebrity; a true success must possess more than another.
For the man of faith truth lies not in the circle of knowledge or power, but in the eternal plane of infinite faith. What is possible for the circular thinkers is dependent upon their diameter. What is possible for those of faith is present. For those of this world are always pursuing larger circles, God Bless them for trying, but with each unit of increase comes ever more self-importance. The little circles are thought politely quaint or ignorantly feeble. The prideful pity the feeble and give them their second best, or a good tongue lashing internet experience. For the ignorant and feeble, the small circles, they make the self-important feel exceptionally good.
Wealth seems to be able to buy a larger circle and the comparisons become visibly stark. The wicked doctrine of politics and power often gathers a steam that inflates. Pride corrupts her brother’s value and self-respect. With achievement, possession, and pleasure, dignity becomes arrogant and the circle becomes larger than life itself. Accepting the praise of others without making effort to obtain the worthy praise that comes from God is the futile endeavor of the ever expanding circle of being.
While most of society lives in their own bubble, there are a few who see a life of freedom. There are no distinctions amongst those who live on the infinite plane. Wealth, knowledge, eloquence or physical ability cannot hold back the possibility of miracles; G.K. Chesterton called it magic or the belief in fairies. He grouped rational thinkers with the potentially insane; thinking only inside your circle can only make life monotonous. Freedom only comes to those who can believe in the miracles of God, through faith. It’s nice to believe in facts, say’s Chesterton, but when the brakes fail on the train the engineer can only hope for a miracle. The data can be cruel, natural laws have consequences. Both circles and infinite planes experience the laws of nature. Oxygen is needed to breathe: gravity, hot, cold, light and darkness are all physical laws. Hate, love, good, evil, are moral laws that transcend all distinctions.
Life on an infinite plane is not selfish and has no boundaries. Sure it can be lonely and many try to stake out homesteads. But I don’t believe God wants us to live that way. The life of faith has no boundaries. We don’t die each day and wake up unaffected. We sleep and wake up changed, refreshed. The horizon seems far off and each hill or mountain seems insurmountable at times, but when crested the view goes on, the journey never ending. My wife and I tried to find a shortcut through the logging roads of the Canadian Rockies many years ago. When we made our last attempt to find our way we saw an eternity of mountains ahead. We turned back. Not because the journey was impossible, but because we were not prepared. If our goal as Christians is to ever expand our circle we shall never live in the possibilities outside it.
Step out of your bubble onto the infinite plane and the journey will be exciting for sure. In faith there is freedom, mind blowing freedom you’ll find, unlimited potential. It’s a change from inward thinking to outward thinking, linear, eternal.