What-Ifs

What ifs can be dangerous; at least that is how most of us react to the idea when we hear the proposal.  The idea something might be true, could be possible, and might be a reality is frequently outside of our framework.  Because of the inside versus outside, understand versus new knowledge, and comfortable versus discovery one finds unlimited responses that all say it is fine for someone else as long as it doesn’t, can’t, and won’t touch me.
 
I know what I know.  As I gray I find two ways of looking at my confidence.  Either I am falling consistently behind the data, information, and knowledge being thrown from every possible corner of society or I am on top of things!  Obvious I would like to believe the latter but know in my heart that the former is probably, possibly, and maybe true.  Denial runs long and deep.  The idea that I don’t have things covered, never had a complete blanket in place, and will always be partially out in the cold is scary.  It is as if I believe in my heart that if I hold on to what I know then everything will be ok.
 
The reality those who really live life discover and practice is that life and living, especially when it is full, robust, and growing, is in essence discovery and learning.  What if I can do something I thought impossible?  What about taking on yesterday’s mountain knowing the summit might now be possible?  If you are on a roll, ask yourself a big what-if.  What would happen if we live fully and completely as a community?
 
In days of old a group of men knew God was going to get involved in human lives.  They understood the process, method, and outcome.  They knew everything with a high degree of certainty.  Then the bombshell that indicated their world was going to be rocked.  “What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from?”  (John 6.62)
 The question is as relevant today as it was yesterday.