I love to read broadly.
On the weekend, I read both the Wall Street Journal
and the New York Times.
I read conservative theologians,
and progressive ones.
Same with listening ...
I love to listen to traditional teachers and preachers
as well as edgy, progressive thinkers.
I love to listen to bright, thoughtful people
who can engage in debate
with those who think differently from themselves
without demonizing "the other."
Here's why:
If all I ever do is read or listen to people who
think just like I do,
my circle of knowledge, belief, understanding
of God, the world, and myself
never grows.
In fact, I believe it contracts.
How can this be good?
Especially when there is so much to know and understand?
Especially when Jesus tells me that I am to love God
with all my mind?
I was thinking the other day
as I was listening to the podcast of poet/philosopher
David Whyte,
that I have a circle of knowledge -
a circumscribed radius of thought -
that I always want to be expanding outward.
The only way this can happen is if I
am willing to be exposed to ideas, concepts, and truths
that challenge the edges of my circle.
The center holds; it is staked on
God through Christ.
But the edges,
O the beautiful, mysterious edges ...
may I always be curious enough,
humble enough,
mischevious enough,
to push and press and prod those edges
outward.