A conversation with a friend recently wandered from here to there and eventually to some of the words of Julian of Norwich. As you do! Anyway; the optimism of Julian and the sheer exuberance of her vision of a universe enfolded in the love of God, and in which the promise " all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well", rings with the tone of a perfect eschatological resonance - all this she wondered, was maybe wishful thinking instead of good theology. Nothing if not cultured this friend.
Which set me thinking about wishful thinking, epistemology, religious experience and a liveable theology. Bear with me - this is as complicated as it'll get. Mainly it set me thinking about "wishful thinking". One of those phrases usually preceded by an assumed or stated word couched in the dismissive mood - "mere", "only", "just". Nothing more than wishful thinking, fantasy, make believe, unsupported by universally accessible and verifiable evidence. Quite. In any case, not borne out by some people's life experience. Quite so.
Which for me raises the fundamental question of worldview, and prompts reflection on the underlying disposition from which we look on the world, our experiences and the possible explanations of why our life is as it is in the world. Maybe for now "we see through a glass darkly", but that evocative phrase keeps company with three words that presuppose a fair degree of wishful thinking. Faith, hope and charity.
(Go read 1 Corinthians 13 - in the King James Version please : - the translation choice is deliberate)
The point is, faith is wishful thinking:
not mere wishful thinking,
but the capacity
to trust that the future isn't all catastrophe but comes towards us in blessing too
to believe that faithfulness in friendships and other relationships is not an illusion, but one of life's given miracles
to accept that who we are is loveable because God loves us, and that others are loveable for the same reason
The point is, hope is wishful thinking:
not mere wishful thinking,
but the capacity
to look at darkness and not deny the existence of the sunlight and goodnessto face up to hate and hurt and not give up on forgiveness and healing, for oursleves and for others
to pick up the broken pieces of our own or another's life, and remake them into new patterns that are joy to behold
The point is, charity is wishful thinking:
not mere wishful thinking
but the capacity
to entrust ourselves to others in the mutual holdings of passionate commitment and faithful friendship
to welcome other people as companions discovering together what it means to be human, and to share and exchange blessing
to believe that self-giving, compassion and generosity are part of the gift and the mystery of a truly human life
Wishful thinking is not ill-conceived naivete. It is a standpoint from which to view the world without cynicism. It is a theological affirmation that holds with profound seriousness the truth and reality of God's love. And so, it is God's love that is the fixed point for all our other calculations and conclusions about what our existence and purpose is about.
And no. God's love is not divine wishful thinking. In being crucified divine love took on the full force of all that makes for brokenness and hopelessness; in the resurrection all the fractured futilities of our too human sinfulness was gathered into a newness we could never have imagined. Wishful thinking for a Christian begins beneath a cross and is confirmed outside a tomb where death and all its cronies were defeated.
The chalk image is by Linda McCray, "Heart of the Trinity". You can find her work, which I like a lot, at her blog and website, starting here
As ever, wonderful, thought-provoking, moving stuff. Seems to me that it forms the basis of a really good liturgy on those words from 1 Corinthians 13.
Posted by: Simon Jones | February 12, 2010 at 09:42 AM
Jim, many years ago, more than 25 years, I first saw William Blake's Trinity in J V Taylor's "Go Between God" and immediately wanted a copy. In those days there wasnt a poster you could buy so I contacted the British Library and asked them to photogtraph it - which they did for £60, no small fee in those days. Its in my home now, framed, and as full of energy as when I first saw it. Loved the reflection, and 'The Trinity'.
Posted by: David K | February 16, 2010 at 09:56 PM
Hello David - that Blake picture is one of the most beautiful things ever done with a pencil. An entire theology of love in an eternal communion of self-giving, outreaching, grace that is the gift allowing all else to be. Cruciform, passionate, enfolding, the Son reaching out yet held, the Father holding and embracing, the Spirit covering both with wings of comfort. £60 was a fortune then David - not only what price art, but what price that which for 25 years has opened your heart to truth beyond mere words?
Posted by: Jim Gordon | February 18, 2010 at 07:32 AM