The Challenge of Paradox

Yesterday I was chatting to my friend Bill. A few years ago, he went into hospital with sepsis, was in an induced coma for a month, caught covid… He talked about what it was like to be in a coma…

Bill’s experience reminded me of the end of Jesus’ story of the ‘Prodigal Son’. When the son returns home his father says: ‘This son of mine was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found…’

This morning I read St Paul describing his life and experiences: ‘genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.’

…Musing on the challenge of paradox…

The prayer of St Francis, that starts ‘Lord make me an instrument of your peace’, concludes:

‘For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.’

…Musing on the paradox of peace in war, life in death…

A boy is rolling on the ground convulsing, foaming at the mouth. His dad says to Jesus: ‘Take pity on us and help us.’ Jesus says: ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’

The dad replies: ‘I do believe. Help my unbelief.’

I have absolute faith that my God is in control… but I’m not exactly sure how… and I don’t understand why things have happened…

…Musing on the paradox of believing unbelief.

In Dolly Parton’s family there was not always much money. Her mum made her a coat of old pieces of material; when she wore it to school other children made fun of her. She tells the story in her song ‘Coat of many colours’:

Although we had no money
I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colours
My momma made for me.

…Musing on the paradox of riches in poverty.