Sunday, July 26, 2009

Realizing Limitations

What should one do when one comes to a point where one recognizes one's human limitations? That is a profound question! Since we recognize ourselves as human, mortal, finite beings, there is a point (or many points) when we come to realize our limitations. The question then becomes, "What now?"

I came to a moment this week where I recognized my limitations. As a result of having cataract surgery on my left eye, resulting in limited activities, limited eyesight, and limited clarity, I turned to an old project that had been sitting so far back on the back burner that it was almost icy cold: Podcasting.

I have used Podcasting over the past several years as an opportunity to put some resources on the World Wide Web, although usually with a much more limited audience, that would assist my students in their learning ventures. I also began podcasting a series of 10 minute devotional style talks on Ephesians. I had initially completed podcasts on the first three chapters of Ephesians, which every student of my NT Survey class realizes is the end of the "body" of the letter. So it was now time to discuss the Paranesis, the ethical teaching section. Chapter Four was quite simple to address and the first two sections are easily recognized as 1-16 and 17-24, discussing Church Unity and New Humanity. I was progressing through 4.25-5.2 when I ran out of time at 4.32. With a new podcast arranged in GarageBand I began to look at completing the third section. But, it didn't make sense!

Had I been incorrect when I first outlined the passage 40 months hence? Could I have made a mistake???!!! Well, yes. I came to recognize my own limitations. So, the question is "What now?" How do I approach Ephesians with this new enlightenment? How do I reshape my understanding of Paul's method to assist my own exegesis and interpretation? Is it possible to view his Paranesis section in varying ways?

The answer is "of course." There are nearly as many ways to understand the outline of Ephesians as there are commentators who have written on it. In fact, I am still struggling with conflicting accounts for the famous 5.22-6.9 section. So what do I do when faced with human mortality and finiteness?

I go on! I go on trusting God to grant me wisdom, I go on trusting God to give me insight, I go on trusting God to reveal himself through the Sacred Scriptures. I go on trusting God to provide me with meaningful ways to communicate truth.

Isn't that what our life is about after all? Aren't we to trust God?