I SEE

I SEE

Monday, August 26, 2013

John [MKJV] 3:1 And there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which you do unless God is with him. 3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [2Cor.5:17]

  The other day Diane and I were talking about tabulating repeated quirks, phrases, idiom by teachers or speakers. Our conversation results from a mutual acquaintance that when he learns a new word uses it constantly in every way he can. Of course this at times results in Leo Gorcey like malapropism. (For you uneducated youngsters, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bowery_Boys )

  Lest you think the tabulation practice counterproductive, it is not. It’s doodler’s attentive punctuation.

  Friend Ron is a splendid conversationalist, always wanting to gain knowledge of person, facts, attitudes and opinions.  Early on I noted his repeated “I see.” then began listening to conversation ours or with others as Ron marked and bracketed points with his “I see”. It changed how I saw at times.

  Thinking about this reminds me of one of my required employee classes. It involved stressing us with tough decisions. Exercises went for 1-2 hours. One session began with printed handout brief about a group of people trapped in flooding cave. Only you could save, but your equipment only allowed for saving half of the group. Within minutes we had to write down list of our choices of who lived, who died. As the clock ticked on with the cave filling, the instructors ordered individuals to groups of 3-4 and then every few minutes handed out pages with additional bio info about every individual in the flooding cave.

  The above experience was harsh life & death training. Here’s milder one to think about: First page received on Helen Keller was in elementary school. Second page - Then in much later education the rest of the story; once able to communicate well she lived out her life as an outspoken radical socialist, birth control supporter, a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union, and on the FBI watch list with file. Do I hear any second page “I see.” or two?

  None of the above is focused on judgementalism, but is about critical thing with ultimately decision making. (Though class students were explained this, some couldn’t get past their emotions. A few men and women were overwhelmed by anger, guilt, tears.)

  Moving on to the most critical decision I’ve ever made and continue in: Though from non-church family, I had read the Bible completely during my youth. A good book I was sure. At age 27 coworker Bud Bond discussed the Bible during 6 weeks of lunches together. Finally I told him “Enough.” When Bud asked “Why?” I told him “Because I can’t accept your basic premise that the Bible is God’s Word, He is Sovereign, and we can personally know Him.”

  Bud asked “Will you accept one last challenge?” (Keep in mind I was 27 brought up in “Double-dare ya!” world.) The next day Bud handed me a copy of Dr. Orr’s Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is THE WORD OF GOD; resulting in the greatest “I see.” in my life.  EBB4