The voyage began this way with these discussion questions to ponder on and reflect on in writing.
The goodness of God fills all the gaps of the universe, without discrimination or preference.
Death is not just physical dying, but going to full depth, hitting the bottom, going the distance, beyond where I am in control, fully beyond where I am now.
When you go into the full depths and death, sometimes even the depths of your sin, you come out the other side--and the word for that is resurrection.
Reading the book again for the third time, this time slower and with more purpose, I am finding diamonds on every page, small enough for me to have overlooked in my rush to uncover bigger gems of many carets. These smaller stones, when inspected with care, reveal startling brilliance with countless facets of great clarity. I now expect to emerge on the other side of the course with a sack of stones of far greater value than I ever dreamt possible.
As I considered the discussion questions, the reflected light of the newly gained gems illumined truths that available all along but are just now recognized. Before I began to reduce my thoughts to words I can share, I read the posted comments not just once but multiple times.
I was struck immediately by the breadth and depth of the posts. I tend to organize thoughts and experiences through metaphors and analogies.
Fishing and fly fishing have been pastimes, to the point of addiction sometimes, over the course of my entire life. There have been countless times when I just looked down into the water and watched trout as they lay near the bottom of the stream, facing upstream and using only as much energy as necessary to maintain position. The current brings them all manner of organic and inorganic particles. Most things are not food so the debris just slides downstream around the nose of the trout and out of sight. Other times something valuable will drift or swim nearby. The trout will casually open it is jaws and suck in the bug or other prey without much movement or exertion.
The analogy for me today comes from feeling like a trout in a swift current overwhelmed by many things flowing by except in the case of the trout, everything that comes by has value. Fortunately, I could just wait for things to flow by again so I could have another chance to understand the wisdom and experience you all shared.
The other that struck me that is analogous to how a trout lives is there are times when a trout has to move out of the safety of the deeper, darker water to take advantage of the offerings of nourishment they can only obtain in shallower water or near the surface which makes them vulnerable to threats from above. It does not require courage for trout to be vulnerable, only proper incentive.
Humans are different. We need the courage to reveal things about ourselves in order to gain the needed nourishment of understanding and self-knowledge. Usually, it takes time for people to relax enough with each other to be vulnerable. What I encountered was a level of openness and honesty that astounded me. I am one of many in the class and none of you know me, so I am truly honored to be gifted with the revelation of things of ultimate concern and true essence. I will respond in kind as go forth from this powerful beginning. Thanks.
Peace
