By Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Yesterday, my tenth graders were doing geometry. That statement alone probably deserves some explanation since I teach English, but there they were with construction paper, scissors, and one large triangle they were supposed to cut into three smaller triangles.
The math teacher knew exactly what she meant. Students were supposed to cut across the points of each angle, leaving three smaller triangles. Apparently, however, tenth graders and scissors can produce possibilities no teacher anticipates.
Some students proudly held up two halves. Others stared at their triangles as if waiting for divine revelation. A few decided they needed a square. The problem with the square, of course, was that it would have created four triangles when the assignment specifically called for three.
As I watched the confusion unfold, those three triangles made me think about another three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We Christians know the shape of our faith pretty well. We go to church. We worship, read our Bibles, pray, attend Bible studies, and learn the right Christian language. These are beautiful parts of our walk with God, but knowing the shape of faith is not the same thing as knowing the One in whom we place our faith.
I can attend church without sitting quietly in His presence. I can read Scripture simply because it is on my reading plan. I can sing every word of a worship song while my mind is somewhere else. Somewhere along the way, relationship can quietly become ritual.
Paul knew something about religion and ritual. In Philippians 3, he lists the credentials that once defined him. He knew the law. He knew the traditions. He had done the things a faithful religious man was supposed to do. Yet after encountering Jesus, Paul realized that none of those things compared with actually knowing Christ.
His desire becomes beautifully simple in Philippians 3:10: “that I may know him.”
Not merely know about Him but KNOW Him.
Sometimes we are like my students asking for the square. We convince ourselves we need something else—another sermon, book, conference, study, or formula—when perhaps what we need most is to draw closer to the One who is already there.
The practices of our faith matter, but they were never meant to replace the Person at the center of our faith. Prayer matters because I am talking with Him. Scripture matters because I am learning His voice. Worship matters because I am turning my attention toward the One I love.
Yesterday, my tenth graders discovered that cutting one triangle into three wasn’t nearly as simple as it sounded. Some had two pieces. Some wanted a square. Some couldn’t see how the pieces were supposed to come together.
I don’t want to spend my life arranging all the pieces of faith and somehow miss the One holding them together.
I don’t want to merely know the shape of faith.
I want to know Him.
When knowing Him remains at the center, even torn wings still fly.
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