It's strange - some of the most meaningful and memorable conversations I've had in the past were with people who would not consider themselves Christian believers in the traditional sense. I don't think I had ever realized before how formulaic and even unreflected a lot of my beliefs had been up to this point. I guess it happens almost automatically when you grow up in an evangelical subculture where everyone uses the same lingo without ever really questioning these terms or digging deeper to clarify for yourself and others what they actually mean, whether it's words like "saved", "born again", "sin", "faith", "biblical/unbiblical" or even "Father-God" (unaware how many outside the church culture would not associate a loving but rather an abusive or absent Being because of their traumatic childhood!).
In one of these discussions I brought up the Apostles' Creed as a good and meaningful summary of what I believed. I was surprised and shocked when I heard "Those words mean absolutely nothing to me and are about as dead as any mathematic equation!" To him it was dry doctrine, lifeless, without connection to his heart or mind. I challenged him to give me something that actually did speak to him in a meaningful way. He responded with a poem that was quite similar to the following one by tonibrittoni:
"You wanted to fly but they clipped your wings.
A song was inside so they said, "Don't sing."
A bird meant to soar with the wind as your throne,
But they built you a cage and said, "Call it home."
As a youth you thought this is how it should be,
Still your spirit cried out, "Please set me free!"
You tried often to tell them but they said, "Indeed!
Don't be a fool, you have all that you need."
But needs go much deeper and when left unmet
The soul starts to whither like a garden unkept.
There's no sadder moment than when all hope is gone
Yet you were determined to be on your own.
So you waited in secret for the door to open a crack,
Then you flew to their amazement and you never looked back.
It wasn't their fault, they did what they thought best
But you wanted more and could settle for no less.
So fly little bird, the wind calls your name.
Return there no more and forget all the pain.
The sky is your kingdom and the earth is your bed
So soar little freebird! Your captor is dead."
So often poetry and stories connect with our fears, our hopes and dreams in ways that dry theological formulas never can. In the subsequent discussion we established that truth cannot possibly tied to a single word or a combination of words (for linguistic and perceptional reasons). It's rather something that "shines through" the words as we begin to identify, engage and are inspired by the encounter. I want to continue to learn how I can connect on that level, not only to pass on what I consider precious and important but also to be encouraged and to learn through the thoughts and personal treasures that others share with me, no matter where they are coming from or how different their worldview may be!
