Friday, August 3, 2007

The finiteness of man and infiniteness of God

(Originally written August 3, 2007 in Notebook 17)

We are closest to God in our darkest hour. It is a pity that this is so, but nonetheless the norm. When we are at our highest point we take credit for accomplishments and need nothing else from God. When we are neither high nor low we are too preoccupied with the particulars of everyday life to bother ourselves with God. Alas, when we are low, distraught and out of options we turn to God with fervor and passion. We are nearest to God when we are at our lowest because it is then the we fully comprehend our own finiteness and inadequacy.

As human beings we ought to be consistently aware of our own smallness. We should always feel the finiteness of our situation and thus search for the Infinite. We should recognize that we are frail and helpless. This is not pessimism! This is realism!

But, while constantly being aware of our smallness we can enjoy life and a life grandiose as vessels through which the Infinite chooses to act. We are but small, but with the acting power of God as He so chooses to act through us we accomplish fantastic things. It is precisely at this point we must remember ouromallness the most, so as to not take undue credit.

We should be struck with awe that anything so great as God has chosen to act in a way that involves us. With omnipotency and omniscience, God does not need us to enact His will. But, in His infinite mercy and wisdom He chooses to act through us. This is not pessimistic anti-humanism; it is simply a realism and a correct response to God, who as always gives me hope and strength, especially when I have none myself.

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