One of my “page turners” this month is a deep thesis into Christian Philosophy written by the late Yandall Woodfin, published in 1980, titled With All Your Mind. Professor Woodfin lays out the existential thesis of knowing God through Jesus Christ. His text is seasoned with scholars, writers, poets, other theologians and even Winnie the Pooh as he reflects his questions on another great philosopher, his dear friend Piglet! Aristotle, Blaise Pascal, Eunice Tietjens, John Dewey, John B. Cobb Jr., Paul Tillich, Dr. Daniel Fuller, and John Martyr are called upon to enlighten the reader in the first thirty pages of Woodfin’s 240 page text. Many more follow.
As is my habit, I do not want to share so much that I spoil your curiosity if you have the slightest inclination to read With All Your Mind. I do share the following excerpt found on page 225, in the chapter titled The ShadowSide of Good.
C.S. Lewis is one of the few contemporary writers who has the courage to develop this theme. Notice carefully that he speaks primarily of God’s address to the evil man:
Until the evil man finds evil unmistakably present in his existence in the form of pain, he is enclosed in an illusion. Once pain has roused him, he knows that he is some way or other “up against” the real universe; he either rebels (with the possibility of a clearer issue and deeper repentance at some later stage) or else makes some attempt at an adjustment which , if pursued, will lead him to religion…. No doubt Pain as God’s megaphone is a terrible instrument; it may lead to final and unrepented rebellion. But it gives the only opportunity the bad man can have for amendment. It removes the veil: it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul.
Question. Does God, for his loving purpose, send punishment in order to discipline his children? The Bible is peppered with many examples. But to many the burning question remains, does God even exist? And another point; on the third day even Mary exclaimed where have they taken my son? ( Or reported words to that effect). Scientifically, with philosophical constructs, Professor Woodfin unfolds empirical answers that appear to flesh out his faith.
Before I visit the Lighthouse, I want to revisit the text on page 23 where Professor Woodfin quotes Blaise Pascal. It was also intuitive avenue of response to which Blaise Pascal later gave classical expression in his famous declaration that “the heart has its reasons, which reason does not know. We feel it in a thousand things.” That resonates with me. Intuition can elevate discernment clarifying the murkiness of judgement.
Ah, finally as I dig through the snowdrifts I hear the fog horn. Through the last of the blowing snow I see the light of reason as it reaches out into the angry sea. I reflect on the art of truth and also on the art of deception, as Woodfin articulated in his Shadowside of Good chapter. The late Edgar Cayce once wrote that if one is to evolve to a more enlightened state one has to truly lose the ego to be connected. One of his twelve steps to enlightenment was to examine your relationship with truth. Do you lie to yourself? In practice think of your worst trait, see your self honestly.
The incoming tide whispers don’t be distracted by the Vaudeville Show our Entertainer in Chief stages day in and day out. I have to remember not to lose sight of myself and the love and support I hopefully continue to radiate to my family and friends. As I age in this body, I must keep my spirit and enthusiasm young. In the predawn, I begin to see in the east a red hue on the horizon. I hope it isn’t the warning that the red sky seen in the morning, for the intrepid sailor, meant a storm is coming!
Thank you for reading.
Be at Peace and Joy!
Mark