Four O’clock in the Morning

Four O’clock in the Morning

May 22, 2024

Four o’clock in the morning, and once more I am awakened by ideas which seem somewhat profound to me — rational, at least. Still, I must offer them as opinions stimulated by what I have been eating intellectually over time and after reading others’ opinions as well…

Religion and philosophy, theism and atheism, even science and naiveté are all simply two perspectives looking at the human experience. They are self explanations of two aspects of living life — existence as we see it.

Those pairings are all alike. To illustrate using religion and philosophy, showing both are more alike than we might presume, we look for others who have similar perspectives and we form Social groups, verifying and justifying our mindsets.

We see ourselves as correct, perhaps even righteous, and we tend to see people with a differing view as in error. Maybe we politely excuse them by dismissing their thoughts glibly with “To each their own.” At the same time, we often look down on each other with some degree of disdain and even disapproval.

Aren’t we all like that? It seems to be an integral part of Human Nature.

Certainly, religion has sets of beliefs. Philosophy has them, too. Science is no different, but arrogantly claims the superior intelligence. So, I am now pondering, are we all just trying to make sense of our existence, trying to justify the skewed aspect of what we experience, are taught, and question?

I think, yes. Philosophy, Science, Religion all seek those very same things. Different people have different judgments on each and all. We can even put them all in a blender and come up with some concoction we bake into our daily lives… While usually, in our daily lives, they don’t mean much of anything. We neither think about these ideas, nor apply them in any aspect of our daily living.

Philosophy, Science, Religion — all have become man made, self designated pursuits. We need them for some reason to find balance within our universe — no matter how big that universe is, or how small, how measurable or how infinite, how wide or how narrow, we are determined to plow on… or to park the tractor in the barn… or to drive spaceships to venture into Outer Space to seek the very origins of the Universe… all quite widely divergent quests, but quests all the same.

Whether or not our approach is theistic or atheistic doesn’t matter. We seem to be simply making things up as we go. It doesn’t matter whether it is fact, fantasy, or fiction… We all need something we can hold on to like a warm blanket which we can wrap ourselves in… Whether it really makes sense in any useful way doesn’t seem to matter.

If it is complete nonsense and ethereal and does not have any practicality at all doesn’t seem to matter, either.

What is this apparent hole in our lives that we so desperately need to fill?

The Bible has practicable applications for living in reality.

It doesn’t try to force a square peg into a round hole.

The problem people have in accepting it seems to be in considering it as just another philosophy, religion, or science.

Often that is exactly the way God, Jesus, and the Bible are presented by, and to, various social groups. It is just another cluster of personally made up ideas and perspectives perceived as just another religion.

Right?

Again, my opinion is that religion, philosophy, and science all have man made rules and conclusions which we have turned into as our comfort zones. We are very comfortable scooting down into our rocking chairs, lounge chairs, kitchen chairs, beach chairs…

The problem is the Bible, Jesus, and God don’t fit into our personal views which we have concluded for ourselves… as a religion, or a philosophy, or a science — even though the truth is they involve all three.

According to MerriamWebster, religion is “relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality…” In that sense, you see, that ultimate reality could be anything a person wishes. However, that wishful thinking can never be considered truth. Neither can the agnostic religion of no absolute reality ever be measured as truth.

It seems to be for me that Science and Philosophy are religions, too. All different hats, but still hats all the same…

I wish God, Jesus, and the Bible had never been thrown into the religion box. They were never meant to be sequestered into such a small, secluded space.

This last reminds me of the Bible story of Joseph who was thrown into an actual hole in the ground by his brothers… When push came to shove, Joseph said to his brothers,

“As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this — to preserve the lives of many people. Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.” — Genesis 50:20–21, Berean Standard Bible.

This small portion of the Bible, regarding Joseph, speaks volumes to me:

• Jesus was crucified, dead, and, like Joseph, put in a hole.
• the religious leaders acted out with evil intent.
• but God meant it for good reasons.
• God opened the door to preserve lives.
• God doesn’t want us to live in fear.
• God wants to provide for us and our children.
• God wants to speak kindly with us and not in harsh judgment.

“Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. — 2 Peter 3:8–9, ibid.

Reading the entire account of the history of Joseph will give you a fuller picture of what I am trying to say. (Genesis 27–50)

Further, please understand that all my ventures into religion, philosophy, and science never fulfilled their promise of solving all of life’s quests and questions or filling that desperate hole inside.

Oh, of course they have had some value in curiosity, vocation, expanding my perspective, and the like, but nothing compares to the value of this new life that God gave to me — not even close — new heart, new mind, new family, new destiny…

Seek God revealed in the Bible, allow Jesus to become a part of your life, and lean on the Spirit of God to open your understanding of the historical document we call the Bible.

It all begins when you take an honest look at yourself and perhaps see the need to turn to God for assistance, or look around and perhaps seek God to save you from this often ugly world.