the problem with being special

I suspect that we know that we are special.  And this causes problems.  In reality we are constructed of the same materials with very similar anatomy as many other animals...especially mammals.  Our body systems are very similar to the monkey and not all that dissimilar to the family dog.  Sure we have a little more intelligence, but it's good to remember that it's still just a three pound brain that does all the processing for us.  I think we know that we are more than the sum of our parts...from the beginning of our lives there is a sense that we are part of something much bigger.  I think we know that we are more than just a biological being.  In fact, our bodies function so well, that I think we almost forget how biological we are...to the extent that we can be surprised when we get sick and can be in complete denial of the prospect of death.  Isn't it amazing that we, who are flesh, bone, and blood can also know the One who is Spirit?  Isn't it remarkable that we who are born, mature and age totally in the context of this gravity-bound place can be absolutely certain that we have a personal relationship with a King who lives in a place that no rocket ship can reach, no submarine can search out, no archaeologist can exhume?  Yes, I think we know that we are special.  Unfortunately, I think we often think we are special because of something we have done or just because we tend to put ourselves on personal pedestals.  If only we can realize that the "specialness" we are confident of is the non-anatomical part of our being that belongs to eternity...then we can reconcile the problem of having a special identity carried in a temporary biological wrapper.  When we realize that we are special because He is special we find that our biological identity is merely a whistle stop on the eternal train we ride.  When we are free of the limits of this anatomy we will become aware of the long train we are aboard.  But for now we can appreciate the wonder of having a spiritual identity that can fully connect with our spiritual Father while traveling in this remarkable two-legged package we recognize when we look in the mirror.

 

Isaiah 38:¹⁶ O Lord, by these things men live;
      And in all these things is the life of my spirit;
      So You will restore me and make me live.
       ¹⁷ Indeed it was for my own peace
      That I had great bitterness;
      But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,
      For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

 

blessings for a very Good Friday,

Rob Smith