Nail Lightly

I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, and as an adult lived in New Orleans and along the Mississippi coast. I know a little bit about hurricanes... and roofing, the two going together hand in (work) glove. I also lived in "Tornado Alley" in Arkansas. All this to say two things: I am a proud son of the South, and I know the value of having things nailed down tightly.

But there is also a danger of having things nailed down too tightly. Attitudes, beliefs, opinions... sometimes folks can have their thinking nailed down so tightly that one is unable to change their thinking even in light of compelling evidence. This malady can effect liberals and conservatives, atheists and religious zealots.

With certitude and arrogance, like those preachers of old profusely proclaiming that "if God had intended for man to fly he would have given them wings like the angels", all the while the boys are out in the field building an airplane.

Point: while it is important to have beliefs, and to believe the right things-- the truth-- stay open to changing your beliefs... or rather to God showing up in ways that don't fit your preconceived ideas and making you rethink everything. The more tightly erroneous beliefs are nailed down, the more painful it is when Reality pries them up.

Final thought: Truth is a person, and his name is Jesus.