Practical Theology

Learning about men and women lately has been teaching me so much about God. We each carry half of His image. Therefore we must be able to glean something simply by looking around. Or inside. Here are two wing-dingers that have been knocking me for a loop:

1. Scenario: something needs to be done.

The guy says, "I will be there at three. God can stop me if He wants, but otherwise I will be there at three."

The girl says, "I will try to be there at three, but you know how traffic is and the toddler has been hiding my keys lately and it's just possible that the rain will get worse, so I can't promise anything, but God willing I will be there at three."

The guy sees the objective and goes for it-- "Damn the torpedoes/Full speed ahead/ That's what Admiral Farragut said." His obstinate determination means he occasionally runs over people, doesn't bother about all the information that may be needed, and can risk being thought pig-headed and proud. On the other hand that same drive subdues oceans, tames wildernesses, conquers the moon, and keeps him faithful to one woman his whole life.

The girl sees the objective and deliberates-- there are a thousand and one contingencies that mean she never doesn't see the Butterfly Effect. Her sideways-thinking brain makes her occasionally dither, often worry, and drive those around her mad with her seeming indecision. On the other hand, that same drive enables her to multi-task, extend grace and empathy, smooth ruffled feathers, make sure the children don't kill each other, and realize when her husband irritates her that there are a billion other reasons she loves him anyway.

He may need to learn grace and humility, she may need to learn bravery and trust.

As my friend Ben said today, "He is full of grace and truth." Two-in-one. He is therefore fully qualified to teach each sex how to navigate the labyrinth of their individual idiosyncrasies. And strengths.

2. I feel the most..... good, I guess, when I feel beautiful. This fits with the model of women representing the beautiful side of the image of God. The other side (at least for this equation) has men representing the strength of God. Together we are beauty and strength.

If I can deduce that men feel the most good when they are being strong (physically, emotionally, or spiritually), then God the Bridegroom must feel good when He is being strong. I haven't thought much about the beautiful part because in this equation we are the girl. We are the beautiful bride. He is the strong one. So. What does a guy do when a girl walks up to him and asks how fast he can run or how high he can climb or how far he can walk on his hands? He shows her. With a glint in his eye.

What happens if we as the bride saunter up to our Betrothed, bat our eyelashes and say, "Hey, can you cancel the laws of physics so those cars won't collide? Hey, can You save my grandfather? Hey, can you raise the dead?" Essentially, "How far can you walk on Your hands?"

These are practical theologies, friends.