The Fence I won’t Jump
“Religion has always emerged at the edge of what humans know. As that edge has been pushed further into the unknown, as our reach has extended into space and the atom and even the chemistry of our own needs and desires, some people have assumed that existence is, in the end, knowable.” -Christian Wiman
No one wants to stay at the edge if the boundaries have been pushed back and you can see life happening beyond them. For many of us, religion represents an artificial boundary drawn out by human hands in a world where a jungle of possibilities exists. Faith needs to keep moving to stay alive. Discovery is always at the edge of our comfort zones and feeds faith. We are hardwired to be fascinated by what’s on the other side of the fence. If you had a pastor in the 90’s preach that you should never read Harry Potter, you probably wanted to read Harry Potter. You were probably disappointed in your pastor after reading it and realizing that a great deal of unnecessary fear was motivating his warnings.
I’ll use an analogy here. Imagine faith, hope, and love as plants we keep within the boundaries set by religion. When we consider moving beyond these boundaries—jumping the fence of what was once comfortable—we may wonder whether we can bring these plants with us, or if they’ll survive outside. The real step of faith is trusting that these qualities already grow on the other side, waiting for us. Discovering that faith, hope, and love have been tended beyond our old limits can be a source of joy. For some, crossing this fence is easy; for others, it’s hard because we've been conditioned to see truth as only thriving within our familiar religious or cultural borders.
Are there dangers on the other side? Of course, but we would be naive to assume predators don’t thrive within our comfort zones.
Recognizing this, faith needs to keep pace with our expanding understanding. This may mean accepting invitations from strangers, learning new ideas, or stepping outside our comfort zone. I notice that when I feel emotionally or spiritually stuck, it is often because I’ve stopped exploring or learning.
Still, a word of caution: knowledge is powerful, but if love does not grow alongside it, the results can be damaging. This is one boundary of faith I choose not to cross. My life must be directed by love before it’s governed by knowledge. I’m reminded of the Bible verse that says,
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
And this quote is closer to our time.
“We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”
-General Omar Bradley, Armistice Day, 1948
A prophetic quote appropriate for today. The Sermon on the Mount holds mysteries that unlock what it means to truly be human. Spoken thousands of years ago, they push us to trust in a better way of living. If the verses change the way you think, you’re reading it right. Love is the greatest mystery worth exploring. At my life’s mid-point, I look forward and know that I’ll never fully figure it out. What I know for certain is that there’s more out there, and traveling light is the key to going further.
Keep walking, my friend
Notes:
Christian Wiman quote found in “My Bright Abyss” Farrar. Straus and Giroux. New York 2013. pg. 82