Only a few more weeks till classes our done for my first quarter here at Fuller. My time here has been such a gift, blessings of education and perspective, community and loving relationships, and God's hand appearing in outright ways to guide and bless us and those we care for. My most enjoyable class, christian ethics, is coming to a close and I wanted to share a theological thought our professor Dr. Lee has emphasized over and over. Trinity.
Trinity brings up some strange reactions and thoughts. Seems like a very abstract concept, 3-in-1, with perhaps no practical purpose or relevance to normal everyday people. Not many sermons are based on the Trinity and its implications, at least ones I've heard. Yet, what I've learned about this ancient theological belief is changing the way I see all of life. The idea behind trinity is that God, three distinct person in one essence, are and have been in loving relationships with one another before time began. These relationships are reciprocating, loving, focusing on the others desire. The closest thing on earth we have to compare is marriage; two becoming one, choosing to lay down one's time, energy, 'life' for the other in love. Genesis 1 alludes to this community God, "Let us make man in OUR image". This relational focused God has always been loving, always been in a dance of give and take, and out of that eternal love birthed creation into being to share in their love. What does this mean? We were created for relationships- God, self, others... to put it simply in MLK's words. This is transforming my way of thinking about the purpose of life.
With that short introduction into the giant concept of trinity, I want to share a few of Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideas. I knew almost nothing about this prophet of human rights before this class. My professor, Dr. Lee, has written a book on King's theology and spiritual passion that directed his movement. King's overarching goal of the non-violent movement was the pursuing of the "beloved community", made up of all races under the love of God and seeing the image of God in one another. This was King's "Dream", and it is trinity incarnate. I find it invigorating that such a powerful movement with fueled not only by love, but for the goal of a world community of love for one another. King saw all life as interrelated. If your neighbor robbed, you are hurt as well. King said that, "the universe is structured that if I am not caring for my neighbor, it will not run rightly." As Desmund Tutu declares, "God has a dream".
I thought it strange and interesting that an Asian American would write a book on MLK. But it illustrates both that we are far from this beloved community, that I (a white man) think it strange for Lee to write on this culture and struggle not his own. We are separated, segregated, and alienated from one another by our own mistrust, bad experiences, and we need God to reconcile us to one another as well as himself. Lee's book also illustrates the strings of love being sown together between black and asian cultures, at least in discussion and empathy.
I could write a good bit about this; Father, Son, and Spirit in loving relationship to one other wants us to do the same. The goal of life is changing for me. Actually, everything in life will be changing for me! Tal is pregnant! we saw the sonogram of the little belly bean on tuesday. He(she) moved around for us and kicked his little legs! What a miracle- we have no idea whats going on in there! Knit him/her together! Our beloved community is growing :) we are both excited and nervous a bit about the pregnancy. Your prayers are loved for our lil raspberry. September 23rd is our due date.
One last comment on Trinity and the need for community in our lives. Think of your day-2-day life. What brings you the most energy? What fills you with life and refreshment?
Isn't it relationships? Investing love into them? That personal connection that moves you and the other into mutual life giving interaction. A word, a compliment. A deed, someone cleaned the lent collector in the dryer for you. A genuine smile. Being genuine is so important.
Think about the most life draining things of your day... is it a relationship?
The universe is interrelated. Life or death can be breathed into us by another.
