Clarity

There is always the possibility that at some level, we will encounter an Epiphany. It doesn't have to be a 'eureka moment', but just that gentle nudge which often points to a new way of being, doing, living, or perceiving (an a host of of other adjectives). Today's personal epiphany is clarity. We have just finished an election season that was marked by confusion, ambiguity, and definite lack of clarity. Even now, there are local areas and States where there still is no clarity, since the totality of ballots has yet to be counted. Here in AZ, local and congressional races are uncertain, and we just don't know the outcome yet. And that makes us uncomfortable. We want it to be all settled, to be wrapped up nice and neatly in a little box with a bow on top. Let the circumstances or situation do the wrapping up for us. We see the same thing with our faith. "This is what I believe, that settles it, end of discussion." But faith, as well as life, is not a matter of certainty or clarity, but quite the opposite. Faith is messy. It tugs us in one direction, and challenges us in another, seemingly in contradictory ways. Do we believe that Christ will save us? Yes. OK then, how? Then it gets messy. Is it through faith alone, as in Paul's writings? Is it through works as in the book of James? Is it through engagement in social justice, involvement in church, etc. etc.? Beginning to get the picture about faith? It's messy. However, even in the messiness, we have clarity, clarity that all is not figured out, not wrapped up in a tight little package, and not easily categorized.The joy of faith is the duality of messiness and clarity; the tension between certainty and uncertain messiness.And praise be to God that it is so.