My Kind of Math
In honor of Erika and Anthony
May 14, 2007
I want to talk with you about my kind of math.
I've become convinced over the years that I do not stand alone in my aversion to numbers. So, I can freely say, I don't like them. Do they affect you like they affect me? They trick me. I don't understand them. They make me nervous. They've humiliated me, again and again, especially in junior high math class!
When I take care of my family's budget, I have to compute the columns of numbers over and over - to find my mistakes. There are always mistakes! But I don't quit until it all makes sense...it just takes time.
Now, words and I get along just fine! I'd much rather talk about how words and I relate. One of the quirkiest things about me is how I spot typos without trying. It's a knee-jerk reaction to me. The credits at the end of the movie scroll by, and I can see that they've misspelled "catering", or "Monaco".
I have to put my hand over my mouth, because this drives my family nuts. It's constant. It happens just about every day. I see them in a magazine, on a billboard, in a novel, even in a dictionary! Sometimes I'm sure I'm the only one who knows how to spell correctly. It's just so easy! I can't escape it...
But when I look at numbers on a page, they play with my eyes. Did that say $1,454.00, or was it $1,545.00? And why are there so many ways to solve equations? I think that things would just be so much simpler if God had not invented numbers at all!
I understand that God made the stars and the rivers with just words. I like that! I like the idea that by speaking, I might create something, too, since I'm made in God's image. That's powerful. I'm careful with my words, because I know that kind of power can also be used to inflict damage, and I don't want that. I love words, and I choose to honor God with my words.
Okay, enough said about my affinity with words... Now, there IS actually a kind of math that I like! I'm sure it makes complete sense, and I call it "God's" math, though He must be responsible for the kinds I don't like as well. Anyway, the equations I'm talking about go like this:
1 + 1 + 1 = 1
Deuteronomy 6:4- "The Lord our God, Lord is One." So, this means that God, our Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit of God...all of these equal One God! You understand that perfectly, right? hmm...
Here's another one: 1 + 1 = 1, or 2 = 1. John 10:30- "I and My Father are One." Jesus and His Father equals ONE. Who can explain this to me?: Okay, so, 3 + 1 = 1 and 2 + 1 = 1....
And how about this one: 1 + 1 = 1. God said so! Genesis 2:23- ...a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Why do I like this kind of math? It's obvious - God does things His own way. He can create you and me from dirt, blow into us, and ta-da!, we're alive!
He can calculate anything He wants to, and get any solution He desires, and He doesn't have to explain it to us! He's God! That kind of power excites me.
I don't have scriptures to back this up, but I believe that some day He'll open my eyes and numbers will make perfect sense. I think He likes surprises! I couldn't understand everything about Him in one lifetime anyway, so He'll give me time.
He's probably even creating a whole bunch of new mysteries for us right now, like a father putting up a playground for his son before he gets home from school. That would be just like Him!
The apostle Paul called marriage a profound mystery:
Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
I think that he was talking about more than just the equation of one man plus one woman equals one flesh. I think he's talking about the astonishing love that God has for us, that He would join Himself to us in such a way as would appear to be totally unreasonable, nonsensical - it makes no sense!
How could the "Supreme Being" create something so wonderful that He would want to join Himself to "it", and teach us about His passion for us - by giving us such a thing as marriage? Wow.
And then, not only did He plan this love story of the ages, but He lived it to the fullest by actually giving up His life for His bride when she had rejected Him!
I call that an extremely profound mystery!
For you, Erika and Anthony, I pray that you awake each morning to the newness of God's mercies and love, in the love-story that He wants to live with you in your marriage. I pray for His blessing and His strength to live your love story to the fullest!
His love is amazing!
May 14, 2007
I want to talk with you about my kind of math.
I've become convinced over the years that I do not stand alone in my aversion to numbers. So, I can freely say, I don't like them. Do they affect you like they affect me? They trick me. I don't understand them. They make me nervous. They've humiliated me, again and again, especially in junior high math class!
When I take care of my family's budget, I have to compute the columns of numbers over and over - to find my mistakes. There are always mistakes! But I don't quit until it all makes sense...it just takes time.
Now, words and I get along just fine! I'd much rather talk about how words and I relate. One of the quirkiest things about me is how I spot typos without trying. It's a knee-jerk reaction to me. The credits at the end of the movie scroll by, and I can see that they've misspelled "catering", or "Monaco".
I have to put my hand over my mouth, because this drives my family nuts. It's constant. It happens just about every day. I see them in a magazine, on a billboard, in a novel, even in a dictionary! Sometimes I'm sure I'm the only one who knows how to spell correctly. It's just so easy! I can't escape it...
But when I look at numbers on a page, they play with my eyes. Did that say $1,454.00, or was it $1,545.00? And why are there so many ways to solve equations? I think that things would just be so much simpler if God had not invented numbers at all!
I understand that God made the stars and the rivers with just words. I like that! I like the idea that by speaking, I might create something, too, since I'm made in God's image. That's powerful. I'm careful with my words, because I know that kind of power can also be used to inflict damage, and I don't want that. I love words, and I choose to honor God with my words.
Okay, enough said about my affinity with words... Now, there IS actually a kind of math that I like! I'm sure it makes complete sense, and I call it "God's" math, though He must be responsible for the kinds I don't like as well. Anyway, the equations I'm talking about go like this:
1 + 1 + 1 = 1
Deuteronomy 6:4- "The Lord our God, Lord is One." So, this means that God, our Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit of God...all of these equal One God! You understand that perfectly, right? hmm...
Here's another one: 1 + 1 = 1, or 2 = 1. John 10:30- "I and My Father are One." Jesus and His Father equals ONE. Who can explain this to me?: Okay, so, 3 + 1 = 1 and 2 + 1 = 1....
And how about this one: 1 + 1 = 1. God said so! Genesis 2:23- ...a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Why do I like this kind of math? It's obvious - God does things His own way. He can create you and me from dirt, blow into us, and ta-da!, we're alive!
He can calculate anything He wants to, and get any solution He desires, and He doesn't have to explain it to us! He's God! That kind of power excites me.
I don't have scriptures to back this up, but I believe that some day He'll open my eyes and numbers will make perfect sense. I think He likes surprises! I couldn't understand everything about Him in one lifetime anyway, so He'll give me time.
He's probably even creating a whole bunch of new mysteries for us right now, like a father putting up a playground for his son before he gets home from school. That would be just like Him!
The apostle Paul called marriage a profound mystery:
Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
I think that he was talking about more than just the equation of one man plus one woman equals one flesh. I think he's talking about the astonishing love that God has for us, that He would join Himself to us in such a way as would appear to be totally unreasonable, nonsensical - it makes no sense!
How could the "Supreme Being" create something so wonderful that He would want to join Himself to "it", and teach us about His passion for us - by giving us such a thing as marriage? Wow.
And then, not only did He plan this love story of the ages, but He lived it to the fullest by actually giving up His life for His bride when she had rejected Him!
I call that an extremely profound mystery!
For you, Erika and Anthony, I pray that you awake each morning to the newness of God's mercies and love, in the love-story that He wants to live with you in your marriage. I pray for His blessing and His strength to live your love story to the fullest!
His love is amazing!
Comments
Wonderful piece! I too share your "love" of numbers. I'll check back often.
LouAnn