Wisdom Begins in Wonder

 

Our world today is filled with skepticism.  We’ve seen too many diets come and go with promises like “Lose 50 lbs. in three days!”  Thanks to Mythbusters, we no longer trust any old wives tales.  We’ve been ripped off by car salesmen.  We’ve been lied to by politicians and religious leaders.  We’ve been heartbroken in relationships and hurt by divided families.  So now when anyone steps up claiming to know something, our first instinct search for a way they are wrong.  Some of you readers may be implementing this right now.  J

Certainly, I am not suggesting that we should take everything at face value.  But I think we can learn from the early Greek philosophers such as Plato and Socrates who insisted that “wisdom begins in wonder.” A few weeks ago I was having a terribly busy day.  While walking outside, I happened to look up at the sky.  It was incredible!  The clouds were spread in such a beautiful arrangement along the blue horizon that it literally took my breath away.  Immediately, simple questions began to arise in my heart.  “Who made this? What is this for?”  That’s what it means to wonder.  Have you tried it lately?

Our modern philosophy teaches us to begin with doubt.  But the Church – in line with these ancient thinkers – teaches us to begin with wonder when it comes to big questions such as the existence of God.  Instead of asking, “How can I disprove this?” we must first ask “How can this be true?”  These are the type of questions that lead us to authentic human reason.  Outside of this mindset, we will never be able to get out of the quicksand of skepticism that pervades our culture. 

One might object: “This is pointless to talk about though.  Without faith, a person can’t know anything about God.”

Can’t they?  Let’s see what the Catechism has to say...  

“The existence of God the Creator can be known with certainty through his works, by the light of human reason, even if this knowledge is often obscured and disfigured by error. This is why faith comes to confirm and enlighten reason in the correct understanding of this truth” (CCC 286).

Did you catch that?  Basically, this is saying that there is a “natural theology” that reveals key truths about God by reason alone.  This is important for a world that promotes “tolerance” to an extreme extent.  Often arguments are used that if some people don’t believe in a God than we can’t hold them accountable for Christian ethics like you should not shoot your uncle in the face with a bazooka.  Wrong.  By the light of human reason (not just religious ethics), it is wrong for anyone to shoot their uncle in the face with a bazooka.  Faith – which is the gift of God – comes to enlighten reason.  Not to usurp it, but to raise it up.  In Fides et Ratio, St. John Paul II uses the analogy of faith and reason being “like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the truth.”

            So are you struggling with your faith right now?  Do you feel like your head is filled with skepticism?  That’s okay - don’t beat yourself up.  Instead know that God is holding you in love no matter how lost you feel.  Try asking the Holy Spirit, “Lord, I am sincerely willing to believe that it’s true that you are real and you love me.  Please show me how this is true.”  I wonder what might happen...

Post by Joey Martineck

Beautiful Things Blog: http://www.joeymartineck.blogspot.com/