Open versus Closed

“What if” and the words that spill out come to you in a way that you are absolutely certain could never, ever, possibly be true.  Would you even consider the question?  In recent events several parts of my answer to this question have become clear.  I find the answers are disturbing because my openness may not be as great as I either desire or think it is.
 
Did you realize that it is far easier to be open to negative ideas than positive?  Before you jump to a conclusion think back to the last time someone said “Have you heard about” and went on to tell you something negative and fascinating about another.  I found myself listening and wondering if the words were true when there were no facts for me to consider.  Before I could even recall my principles and values about people I was walking down the path of speculation and gossip.  The observations did seem totally out of character but they could be true!  I needed to know.
 
Have you thought how doubtful one usually is when hope is presented?  It is almost as if our reasons for grasping onto hope in the past were dashed so many times that we cannot imagine hope existing even when it is the truth.  “Have you heard” brings out every negative defense and “show me” attitude within our hearts and minds.  It isn’t possible sums up many conclusions.  There is little willingness to explore what could be, no imagination jumping ahead in wonder and amazement, and scant interest in even considering the proposition on the table.
 
Is your view of God positive or negative?  When positive evidence of God was presented in the past the story goes like this.
 
“But they cut him off.  ‘Are you also campaigning for the Galilean?  Examine the evidence.  See if any prophet ever comes from Galilee.’  Then they all went home.”  (John 7.52, 53)
 
I know I often react the same way.  I know.  Or do I? 
 
Today Divinity reaches out.  Will our door be open or closed?