Special Features Continued from page 36 Nikko said, “But dumb, they were not. They sensed themselves, even as they were telling us, the individualistic quest they proposed is a dead-end. No person reaches the truth alone. The more of an individual, the less of a person. But I suppose if they don’t know, maybe it’s because we haven’t shown them, or because they feel they already know it all. I guess we have to try harder, break bread together.” George said. “They knew something, but they knew there was something more, and they were longing for the unknown thing, but didn’t know how to know it. Like the Euclidian, what was it called?”
“Algorithm.” Nikko said.
“Yes. They taught the algorithm so we would know there were some things we didn’t need to understand or prove to know they were true.” George said. “We knew it had something to do with reality, something existing bigger than us” “If they came to church?” Nikko said. “They’d have to let go of their faith in their own logic and reasoning, because nowadays, Georgie, there are as many logics as there are people, as there are desires and dreams. So many, they make each other meaningless. And our long held common life? They would have to give up their individual certainty, the authority of their ego, to share the one cup He offers. Never! Would rather die alone. It’s just them and God. They will speak their new word, as they see it,” Nikko snapped his fingers, “and He will do as their logic demands. The Bible by my formula. Using physics to measure metaphysics. ” George made the sign of the Cross. He said. “Hard, not to lean to our own understanding. But foolish to think we can compel the unknown to come within the limits of our understanding. How can we grasp it with the poor tools of our senses and brain? The fish is too big for the net. No, Nikko, the
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Start, don’t wait. Some scoffed at St. Paul, as some will scoff (or worse) at you. But some will listen, as the Holy Spirit draws them to you when you have an open heart and see in every one of these broken, lost and confused persons the image and likeness of their Creator. There is a hunger and thirst in this world that cannot be satisfied by anything other than the Gospel. Do not be afraid. The eternal
unknown must come to us, to our level. Has to jump in our little boat.” Nikko said. “Today, people don’t believe unless they understand, and since they think they can understand everything, there, Georgie, is the weakness. Their understanding is their weakness. The heel they hold it by is their limit, like Achilles’ mother. Their thought slips away when they try to hold God because He is beyond thought. So, they reason, He must not be. They’ll believe anything as long as they claim to understand it.”
Summer Winter 2012 2016
“Or to feel it.” Georgie said. “And if they don’t understand it or feel it, it can’t be true.” Nikko said. “Our priest would prefer to say what they wouldn’t find. But, what they would find is all of us, the strong and the weak, limping together, helping each other, trying to cross over in the one boat, with only Kyrie to guide our way, that, they would find.”
“Do our priests go out to sell?” George said.
“Is that how your American son-in-law joined the church?” Nikko said. Georgie said, “No. My daughter? She just loved him. Then my wife. Then me. I think now he loves us too. We apologized about so little English in the church, but he said there are other ways there that God touches him.”
“He must have eyes in his heart.” Nikko said.
“It helps to know.” George said. “To understand the way of others. Then maybe we can help each other.” Nikko said. “Let’s walk up to the sponge docks. Bring your hat. We don’t want your brain getting sunburned.” v
salvation of these people may be at stake, and you may just be the person whom God calls to bring these people, like St. Philip with the Ethiopean eunuch. Or St. Paul at the Acropolis. “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, but others said, ‘we will hear you again about this.’ So Paul went out from among them. But some men joined him, and believed.” v
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