Some get to know God in a blinding flash, others find gradual illumination and many stay in the dark. My own illumination has been through gradual flashes served by church membership. It came also through researching carbon polymers. As I opened up new realms of knowledge, I had a sense Someone had seen these things before.
Scientists pursue truth but many have a sense that truth is with us and awaiting us. Reason and faith both lift us to God. Saul of Tarsus whose Conversion we’re celebrating today, originally followed a reasoned religion lacking faith. He lacked openness to the transcendent. God was in his religious books and laws so he was rattled to encounter the first Christians. They spoke of laws and indeed life itself transcended through the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
It was too much. He raged against it. But Saul was to become Paul, the reasoned man became the man of faith as heavenly light came over him on the Damascus Road. His eyes were opened to a God built less to his dimensions and more to those of God who is God!
As God is truth we need to seek truth, but that's not enough. We need to be open to truth as something or Someone seeking you! The best of scientists like old Archimedes get eureka moments - I see it! These moments are, like Paul’s today, a lesson in humility, that is, in disbelieving yourself so as to see something more wonderful.
What an awesome, joy-giving and life-enhancing business it is getting to know God! We need the readiness to loosen from self preoccupation, see the big picture of reality and be put in our place!
God grant us a vision of himself more to his dimensions and less to our own. In Paul’s words to Corinth, God give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4v6)
God who shone on Paul shine on us all!
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