Continuing with exploring the dimensions of my theology ... I read a blog today ... and I objected. I don't agree. Awkward, because its a blog from a friend who is a church minister. Today he wrote about living by a Rule of Life, in which he turned his thinking about his relationship with God into a set of Rules of Life that expresses his response to God. Really, they're just principles, in themselves they're fine ... good principles to live by, I have no quibble with that. But, being the pedantic person I am, I could not stop myself objecting. You cannot frame Life by rules or principles. That's a contradiction in terms! Especially life with God! (More after the photo ...) Tell a plant to live by rules. Tell the moss that grows tenaciously the rules it must live by. That's nonsense!
Our existence is not a product of rules. Yes, we can identify in our existence the patterns of normative experience and call them rules, we can see the actions that are destructive and constructive ... the principles if you like. But these are our own constructions that we lay over a much more raw reality ... life has no cognizance of principles. Life in plants, animals, and humans exists in relationship with its environment. And my environment is one where I swim in God's creation, as God's creature. At my own peril I can ignore this reality, while to my undeserving benefit I can learn the blessings. Terry Pratchett, in his usual insightful manner, writes about someone: "Jeremy tried to be an interesting person. The trouble was that he was the kind of person who, having decided to be an interesting person, would first of all try to find a book called How to Be An Interesting Person and then see whether there were any courses available." How sad it is that we all do this. However much we deny it, we are each constantly in search of those rules that will make life Just Work. There's safety in rules, because then I have no responsibility. It's the rules. And my success of failure is simply dependent on whether I followed the rules. Underpinning everything is how I relate. My relationship, with the world around me, with people, and with God. Relationship. There is nothing more fundamental than that. And relationships do NOT start with rules. Relationships are dynamic and rich and deep and nuanced interactions that build or destroy. What we call rules are no more than our identifying those patterns that make relationship. And Rules of Life are no more than our recognition of how relationship works ... what God created us for. To serve and love others, through strength in humility, acknowledging in bruising honesty all that I am, and all that I am not. Rules of Life help me see the structure of relationship. Rules of Life do not define my relationship. And with God, there's often an exception to the rule where so many of the human-constructed rules are simply guidelines. God forbid that my relationship with him should ever begin in rules. In God's grace I will understand my relationship and live it, dynamically, ever changing, always developing, melding more and more into the God-intimacy I was created for. (Now I wonder how many people will mis-interpret what I mean ... there are only two real "rules" in life)
1 Comment
r4space
14/3/2013 12:57:24 am
True, but rules, as much as they are often merely social graces, are a needed blessing. Operating in the full thrill and rush of a no rules environment, be that an open academic question, an unchartered environment, or a brand new relationship, is thrilling, challenging, exciting, energising, but also taxing.
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Why?
Probably the best therapy is to express yourself. Why do you think psychiatrists make you lie on the couch and talk, while all they do is murmur "hmmm", "uhuh", or "go on"? Archives
May 2017
|