It's from a riddle the Mad Hatter asks Alice in her Wonderland adventure. "Why is a raven like a writing desk?" The guy never answered his question, as he jumped from curious thought to the next even more curiouser thought, shrugging off the poor girl as she contested how nonsensical it is to ask questions that don't have answers.
As I thought about what I'd like this blog to be I've considered the question to be sort of like an unanswered riddle. Or is it all that unanswered? The riddle presents the idea that two seeming unrelated things could actually be more connected then first thought. Many of my interests don't seem to have much to do with each other. Most people would just describe me as well rounded. Or perhaps a jack of many trades master of none, or maybe even a bit scattered brained. But oh the satisfaction to see a connection or a common thread in something!
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In the Bible the common connection is Christ, from beginning to end it's all about Jesus. From every Old Testament narrative, to every parable, to every Epistle Paul wrote. It all points to a Savior. As Martin Luther described "Every letter of scripture drips with the blood of Jesus". The most glorious connection of all time is that in Baptism we are connected (grafted) into the death and Resurrection of our Savior.
This connection brings us from death to life. This life has it's beautiful seasons and its dark seasons. God is present in it all. We're yoked together to grow, severing one another and forgiving as He forgives us. In this life we live in society, learning, playing, and sharing. Our life in Christ certainly has something to do with our daily life together. One of my favorite Latin phrases expresses this well:
Lex orandi, lex credendi
(law of praying, law of believing)
The way we worship is the way we live. God gathers us together to receive his promises freely through Word and sacrament, bringing us from death to life through the proclamation of Christ crucified for us. This new life is what we believe and what we live as we depart into daily life and the hope that we cling to as we return to receive from our Father.
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Faith shapes life. We are given a precious life to live. Free to make memories and attempt new challenges. Free to serve our neighbor. That is what this blog is about. LIFE
It may seem random and crazy at times but my hope is that Under the Fig Tree will express a life lived grafted to the Tree of Life. A life together in Christ.
Many have tried to conclude what the answer to the riddle may be here's a links to some clever insights! Enjoy the fun!
http://io9.com/5872014/the-answer-to-the-most-famous-unanswerable-fantasy-riddle
Thank you for the delightfully whimsical article!
ReplyDeleteI believe there is room for whimsy in the Christian life and that it is one of our many gifts.
How wonderful to be reminded that God is always present.
(like hearing our children call our for their father and being reminded of our Heavenly Father, like your other article)
I love how you weaved all of that together. And the article you linked was superb hehe
I like some of the answers that people have come up with.