Friday, August 27, 2004

truth incarnate

i'm really late to the party here, but i've just read paul fromont's blog on emerging truth and orthodoxy. this is some of what he wrote:
Where is truth located? For me, I’m increasingly relocating “truth” and “orthodoxy” from the solely rational sphere to the embodied and incarnational, e.g. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life – so what does that look like, feel like, taste like, smell like, and sound like in embodied realities such as church, community, and world? Truth is not abstract and solely propositional, truth in embodied in flesh and blood. The truth of what is said is seen and experienced. Don’t talk to me about “love” – show the truth of love by the reality of its being experienced by me in a very multi-sensual way. Truth then is not a matter of opinion, truth is incarnation and embodiment, truth is a particular story lived into and especially lived out of. Tell me your truth and I’ll look, taste, touch, smell, and listen. Does it make a difference?
this makes a whole lot of sense to me, at the same time as scaring me half to death. i like to keep my 'truth' cerebral and propositional, it feels safer and somehow less demanding that way. i fool myself that i can 'figure it all out' before putting it into action, but that's just empty vanity and doesn't help myself or anyone else. knowledge is useless if its not lived. truth is meaningless if its not incarnate, radiating out of one's life like a strong aroma.

i need to be reminded of this often, and i need to do something about it. i'm very aware at the moment that my rubber hasn't been hitting the road, that my life has been pretty much tasteless and lukewarm for a long time. i want to have a positive affect on those around me, but that's not going to happen by just talking the talk.

stay tuned, this journey has only just begun.

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