something to process

here's a term to digest:

process theology.

and what the crap does it mean?:
essentially, it outlines a thought system,
in which god does not know the outcome
of our future. and it relies on you and i
to creatively collaborate in our lives
to ensure that the future- for everyone-
lives up to its fullest potential.
the universe and all in it, live through
processes of change, as we're all agents
of free will.
to boil it down:
god still has a will for everything,
but not everything that occurs will be in god's will.
this allows god to be changable,
but certain fundamental charateristics (ex, love)
will never change.

why i like it:

i'm never a big fan of blaming god
for the bad things that happen in life.
(even though i probably do it more than
anyone else i know).
knowing that "god is in control"
certainly can be reassuring in the right context.
but i hate to think of god as being in control
of hate crimes, rape, and merciless death.
i prefer to think of god of mourning these events,
rather than to cause them.
and all this bad stuff is often washed away
by some out-of-touch-with-reality individual
reminding us that god is simply shaping us,
and that he ultimately has a plan
and better outcome for our lives,
and that the bad stuff will help us to get there.
yuck.


why i'm a little apprehensive:

i'm not sure how much i want to own up
to the fate of the universe being on my shoulders.
but, maybe that's unavoidable regardless.
as much as it makes me sick to hear
about people singing for jesus to take the wheel
and to guide every step of their lives,
i take certain comfort in believing that somehow,
somewhere, there's a bigger deity that knows
the outcome of my life, and is,
hopefully, directing me in a better path.

bottom line:
maybe this is an opportunity for humility,
and while i will unlikely stumble upon
a solid answer for it, maybe the wonder
and awe of even being able to ask the
question is satisfaction enough.