Living in the Questions

Pastor Chellew-Hodge makes another great point in her book about the importance of learning to live with ambiguity and a lack of total certainty in life and with our faith. As she puts it,

"It's been said that the opposite of faith is not doubt but certainty. Those who have certainty have no need for faith. Their questions are all answered, and they know they're right. Those of us who love to live in the questions, however, need faith, lots and lots of it, to make it through each new question and to continue to exist in the old ones" (35).

I think this statement applies to many contexts in life - for instance, in the church(es)' approaches to welcoming LGBT in their midst. I believe that the more we as both individuals and communities are comfortable "living in the questions" rather than seeking absolute certainty the more we'll be prepared to accept the Spirit's ongoing invitation to think beyond the limits we tend to impose on God's love and, in doing so, encounter grace in new and unexpected ways.

Peace,
Padre Chuck