Platitude Sounds Like Platypus For $200 Alex

(Note: This post came after reading a poem by Jenna Compton. Its not actually related to the poem at all, but the initial idea sprang from reading it. It was a good poem though. It's on her blog, you should read it.)
http://www.jennacompton.blogspot.com/

I wonder how much of what we say, we actually mean. And no, this is not a discussion about lying. Well, in a sense it is, lying to ourselves, but not outright, boldly telling untruths. I mean when we say things, and say them with the best of ideals in mind, but truly don't mean them. Things where if we really dug into what we were saying and studied what it meant for us, and for the world, and if our actions reflect our speech, we would realize that we don't mean it, any of it.

For example, when people say things about how we should love everybody, no matter what they've done. Or when people say things about hating the sinner, but not the sin. I want to be that ideal, I want to do those things when I say them (and I assume other people want to follow through when they say them), but if I am honest with myself, I don't mean them. Or at least, I don't act as if I mean them. And honestly, if nothing changes, does it really matter what you said. I say all that to say this, I am not good at following through on these kinds of platitudes. I suck at it. I judge people on my own personal sliding scale. I distrust God, when I know that he knows what he's doing. I don't love everyone equally. I hate sinners, but only if they do sins which I can't get past. I lose sight of God and add in to the destruction and decay of the world around me (physically, mentally, and spiritually).

And I'm not different. I'm just like you. Just like the church, just like people in history. Everyone has their strengths, but everyone has their weaknesses. And that's kind of the point. What's the point of a savior if we already think we're good enough to not need saving? What's the point of a spirit if we don't need to be lead? What's the point of God if we don't need him? And yes, this sounds like yet another platitude, but at a certain level, these phrases transcend mere triteness and become something real and in so doing, they become bigger. And now, its not a platitude, its an understanding of how the bigger picture works.

I don't know if I'm making a point, maybe I am, maybe I'm making multiple points, but I feel like this is a big deal. I've been reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer some this summer (not enough, I need to read more), but he makes a point about how certain phrases make a lot of sense if they are the end result of the process, but don't mean the same thing as the input for a process. For instance, when Martin Luther says "Sin and sin boldly" (I may be paraphrasing, not sure), it only makes sense as the finally of a process. If that's the starting point, then it seems as if we should just sin all the time, because God will forgive us of all we do. So who cares what we do, because God loves us and he will save us. So go ahead and sin it up. Do whatever. But that's not what it means. Luther went through a process to get to that point. After going through the process, a process similar to the one which I feel I am currently experiencing, he found that we are all bound to sin. We will sin, it is inevitable, it is part of our fallen nature. And that instead of drowning in sin and sorrow, and handcuffing ourselves with worthless guilt, we should sin boldly in front of God and everyone, so that God's grace might be made known through our failures. It is not permission to sin, but acceptance of our nature and an acute awareness of God's grace and mercy. And that is just one example, there are many others.

So that's where I am for now, or maybe that's where I was, I don't quite know because I seem to be moving a lot. In my own mind I am the amateur philosophy equivalent of Bob Dylan (some of you get this joke, thank you). There is a song by Mae that says, "Say anything, but say what you mean." That's good advice. Maybe we should say what we mean, but I wonder if we even know anymore. I wonder if we are even aware of what we know, and what we simply regurgitate without ever fully digesting it. Thank God, that he sent his Spirit to us. Or else we would be so lost. Thank God we still hear echoes of a voice.

May we say what we mean. May we mean what we say. And may the spirit guide us even when we've lost the way. Amen.

Peace and love,
Ben

P.S. I feel obliged to mention that the posts that I've had this summer are not really reflective of my mood/mindset for the summer. I know at least one person who seemed to think I was depressed because of what I've been writing. Trust me, I'm not. I think I may actually be at the most balanced (not stable, God doesn't seem to like stable) I've been in a long time. For the first time in let's say 2 and a half years since this kind of spiritual renaissance has been happening I feel truly confident in God and optimistic for where this journey heads. So, I just wanted to assure everybody (aka 2 of you) that I am not down or depressed, I am actually quite chipper (I miss John Smoltz) and hopeful. I hope everybody is having a wonderful day. Smile more, it makes the day better.