Conditioned.
The four men – Tim, John, Greg and Simon – had agreed that to some degree they were all conditioned.
As they chuckled and took another bite of their meal or swig of their drink, Simon asked the question,
“How do we know that the way we were conditioned or are being conditioned is right and true?”
Simon had moved to the area and in the five months thus far had struck up a friendship with John through work. John and Tim had been lifelong friends and Greg was close with Tim. The three regularly engaged in a tradition. John had neer seen anyone at his workplace with an interest in the tradition until Simon arrived. Having taken Simon along on a few occasions, Simon didn’t appear as fully engaged as the others, but still continued to show up. Now here at this golf club with Simon being new to the sport, was the opportunity for them in a relaxed setting over a meal to for his friends to get a taste of what Simon was like with him through the week.
For all that, the question was startling for the way it seemed to jab at even his own long-held beliefs. He wasn’t the only one briefly stunned by the question as he saw Greg and Tim grappling with it. Simon, seeing their long pondering, moved on.
“Can we know if the way we are conditioned is right and true?”
“I believe we can.” offered Tim. “In fact, it’s what I’ve given my life to doing. That’s why we visit those in prison and also do hospital vistations as and when we can. I believe we can know truth and that truth can make us free …”
“I believe you’re absolutely right,” affirmed Simon, “That’s one of the reasons why I was so impressed by John when I met him. He said he was someone fascinated by this way and I believed him when he said that.”
Greg sighed heavily, “Glad you said that, Simon. I thought you were one of those weird people who don’t do things the way we’ve done them for years.”
John and Tim chuckled with Greg.
“Oh I am one of those weird people who don’t do things the way we’ve done them for years.” quipped Simon in a matter of fact way.
The others looked at him to see if he was joking. His face kept its warm and friendly features but gave no indication of having cracked a joke.
“What I mean by that is, someone helped me to understand that Jesus Christ is the way, truth and the life. That truth that sets us free is real, is alive, is relational. And in setting us free sometimes that truth challenges everything about how we live. Even the way we live that has been so well conditioned to maintain a tradition that seeks to be so close to the truth and yet …” he tailed off, deliberately not finishing his sentence and taking another bite from his burger.
The other three were intrigued and Tim once more piped up for them, “Go on, Simon. You have our interest.”
“Put it this way, Tim. You do good works and I know you don’t do those things to earn anything from God. I know you’re sincere. I’m not disputing that at all. I am wondering though if your gatherings give the opportunities for the love that propels you to serve to be expressed and stimulate others to love in the same way?”
“If we wanted to say something, we could arrange for that to happen.” said Greg a little defensively.
“Hey, I’m not saying what you’re doing is wrong. I’m just wondering. I’m wondering if there’s a way for us to do things when we gather that reflects the liberty we experience because of the truth that sets us free.”
“You’re more than wondering aren’t you, Simon?” said John, sensing that this wasn’t something that Simon had just come up with.
“Gentlemen. Listen. As John has probably told you, I tend to ask questions. I ask questions because life has taught me it’s worth asking questions and then exploring answers together. In community. Among friends. With family. I’d like to explore those answers with you. What do you say?”
(Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 