It's Not What You Think You Heard or Saw

Children have an interesting way of stripping down adult concerns to their uncomfortably basic realities. Who better to study then, when we desire to better understand reality? 

Two cases: 

A little girl who's damaged ears went untreated for some time, and a little boy who's blurry vision was unnoticed. Each child had loving but unaware parents, and what is interesting isn't the challenges they underwent during their perceptive handicap, but rather their reactions to the world around them after healing. 

The girl was heard telling her father informatively "Dad, did you know that leaves make a rustling sound? Did you know pencils make noise on paper?!" While the newly four-eyed boy remarked at a family reunion "Grandma! You have teeth!" The humor in these novel realizations isn't lost on us. What might be overlooked, however, is the unnerving questions that are raised when two highly functioning human-beings are observed re-evaluating the way they perceive the wonder of the world around them; after their handicaps are removed. 

The power of the image in this case rests upon the age of our characters. They exist in a season of life FULL of adaptation and comprehension. Admittedly, nature vs. nurture is a common debate; but there is no doubt that our formative years hold great potential for learning and unveiling the perceived mystery of the physical world around us. I use the word mystery with a particular nod to the Apostle Paul, whose choice of language for understanding and exploring our faith often included this vague and inconclusive word.

It is this mystery that I would like to turn our attention to. Little children whom untreated could live a life devoid of normal senses that our healing can reinstate, make me wonder what other portions of the human existence we 'little children' might be missing out on. 

Allow me to explain my skepticism. The vast majority of humankind will not dispute that our five senses have a typically universal ability to interpret the world around us. Much has been made out of the abnormal cases (see above) but in general, you and I will each hear the siren of an ambulance, it is intended that nearly everyone should hear it. I would suggest that a parallel  but unique sense exists innately in Christianity. I believe that this sense or heightened awareness remains unused in the deaf world of secularism, because Christians see things only those of faith can perceive (Colossians 1:26-27). 

In our post-modern and skeptical world then I am at home as a skeptic. But my skepticism does not revolve around religious texts. My doubt is concerned with the ridiculous notion that our observation, and consequentially our qualification and quantification of the world around us is all that there is to be found in this existence. I find this qualm in the example of little children. Children who left untended and unloved might have lived a life reduced of experience, and therefore ran the risk of misunderstanding their world.  

We live in an age of reason and doubt. The savor of the former and the salve of the latter is found in the scientist's cry of "repeatable verifiable." Yet, if leaves had no sound in the 'science' of the little girl. How plausible is it then, that God hath no voice in the ear of the scientist? 

One final thought. If we, priviledged few who identify with Paul, have been healed. Was it not by a benevolent God? Can you imagine the joy of a parent whose child has been diagnosed and cured? Now empathize with that same parent, as their joy is watered down by the regret that they hadn't rescued their offspring from want and suffering earlier. How much more then, does our Father in heaven desire to heal those destined to be his children? To reveal new truths, new perspectives and new senses to those in His image! (All the moreso because he knows what we miss out on!)

I do not discount what I see and what I feel first hand, but I know that mysteries exist in our faith, and our faith is the solution. I pray that you will chase after that faith above all physical understanding, for it isn't what you see, but what most people miss seeing, that assures us of a narrow path home.

For the sake of simplicity I've left out some of the necessary parallels between scientific research and perception, as well as the ties between observation and post-modern skepticism in contrast to Faith. Should you find an error or have a concern, please comment and I will be happy to edit or elaborate.