Yesterday we learned that we may have a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown. Presumably this is to prevent us being plugged in and switched on – because the result could be shocking.
Such metaphors are like a red rag to a bull to me – but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I don’t want to be the fly in the ointment.
I continue to enjoy how quickly metaphors change as I read my Bible. This morning I’m musing on metaphors in 1 Corinthians 3….
‘Foundations’ picture lives as buildings. Jesus’ familiar story about the wise man who built on rock and the foolish man who built on sand is about the importance of a solid and reliable foundation.
We examine what the foundations of our political, education, health-care and church systems are actually built on…
And we muse on the strength of the physical, moral, mental, social and spiritual foundations of our own lives…
‘Fire’ is a picture of testing. The quality of the metal being tested by fire. The test in Jesus’ story of houses was not fire but storm.
Our politicians, health-care experts, teachers and churches are certainly being tested…
And our individual lives are being tested regarding their integrity, resilience and strength. Many are finding the testing tough…
‘Fools’ bring a view of reality that turns perception upside-down. It is the apparent contradiction – the leader is a servant, the poor man has unseen riches, the weak is strong.
It is the fool who is the wisest person in the king’s court; the clown who is the university professor.
Faith brings Paul to say that ‘You are God’s temple and God’s spirit lives in you’… This ‘temple’ certainly requires strong foundations that will be tested… and the infinite living in the finite is an apparent contradiction.
The proof of that pudding is certainly in the eating.
malcolmsmusings.org 