What's Tony Thinking

Let God be God

Sunday . . .

This morning, for reasons not entirely clear to me, I feel moved to quote some words of the Apostle Paul from his Letter to the Church at Rome. For many chapters, before these words, Paul has been wrestling with gnarly theological conundrums.

Here, he comes to the end of his wrestling, by simply throwing up his hands — in praise and wonder — exclaiming,

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11: 33 – 36, KJV

Sometimes it is the very best thing we can do: to throw up our hands, in wonder, love and praise. As Gregory of Nyssa put it, “Concepts create idols; only wonder comprehends anything.”

Two photos to go with these words. The first a picture taken from Buckhorn Lookout in northeast Wallowa County, looking southeast at the vast canyon lands of the Imnaha and Snake Rivers. The second is a recent painting of mine of the Columbia Gorge, where we will be spending the upcoming holiday with our family.

Grace and peace to you all on this sabbath day. Tony