Complex and Simple
I enjoy watching movies. It does not particularly matter whether it is a western, comedy, drama, mystery, documentary, etc. However, my favorite type tends to be musicals. There are many movies I have seen multiple times on the spectrum of complex to simple. Frequently in my conversation I will adopt a quote from these movies. The movies (though having nothing to do with my own life) become part of my life. Scripture is that way as well. I enjoy many aspects of scripture. The history, science, mystery, adventure, all touch me in a different manner. A critical difference is that scripture is true and from the mind of God, while movies certainly are not from the mind of God and often contain things which are not true. Setting the differences aside, one similarity between the two gives me astonishment, puzzlement, and joy. Both provide me with instances of “aha!” and “What?” no matter how many times I have been exposed to them.
The human mind is amazingly complex. We filter so many stimuli at once with the brain filing away what it feels is important and tossing what is not. Of course, then it throws in weird stuff like remembering a paint chip in a wall from your childhood. Anyway, while the brain tries to do its best in grabbing on to everything it encounters, out of nowhere it will grab something new from something you have seen, heard, or read regularly. I watched the movie postman (with Clearplay) for years. In the movie, there is a reference to President Richard Starkey. I never thought anything of it. Until I did. The name was a bit of humor in the movie. It was a reference to Ringo Star (drummer for the Beatles). Boom! Mind blown! Yes, over something very simple, right in front of my eyes for years. A similar brain rocking moment for me occurred after decades when I realized that the word “reproof” (KJV) in 2 timothy 3:16-17 was actually not the same as “reprove” (KJV) used elsewhere in scripture (See https://churchofchristarticles.com/reproof-or-reprove/ for more on this). Where was my brain before that? Well, it was filtering through other teachings, observations, thoughts, moods, perceptions, and more. Then out of the blue, BAM! Recognition!
What is the importance of these occurrences? The value in these times comes from understanding the need to open your eyes to discovery. Mankind isn’t meant to read the Bible once and have a full and complete understanding of everything there. I have read the Bible for over four decades. I still find myself feeling as if I have just begun. The more I study, the more my vision improves. I find I can see things which would never have been possible to see years before. I find the body in the room that I continuously stepped over before because I was interested in looking at the letter opener on the desk every time before. AHA! “Something different” my mind echoes, yet it was always there. I make notes of words I need to do searches on “tribulation, generation, age, grass, time”. The greater the volume of information I seem to store away, the more miniscule it looks compared to what now lays before me.
Spiritual discovery is important in our lives. It is directly related to coming to know our Creator. It involves understanding His plan for our lives, those before us, around us, and after us. The discovery enables us to build a relationship with our eternal Father and continuously make it stronger. If you stop trying to discover who your spouse is one year into your marriage, you are doing yourself and your spouse a great disservice. The exact scenario is true with God and His Word which He has given. His Word is to be before us always. When it is, the discovery and fascination will be never ending. We need only open our hearts and minds to care enough about what is always there, but we have never seen before. With the ever-watchful eye, when we search through the complex and simple, treasure and meaningfulness will be uncovered.