Experiences > Words

A couple times a year, my wife and I load up the family and travel south.  "South", includes one of two places; Norris Lake, TN or Florida.  Even though we've been countless times, we still wait for the signposts to tell us "how many more miles" we have until we reach our destination.  Our youngest child will say every few minutes, "how much longer." 

"How much longer."  That seems to be motto for much of spirituality.  We sit next to the signposts, but miss the journey.  We miss all the potential experiences that lead to the destination, and sometimes we miss the destination all together because we hang on to "how much longer" the experience will last.  Like a wise man once said, "Words are like signposts...they just point to what they are describing, but aren't the object of our desire." 

Words are important!!  I don't want to belittle their importance.  They give us a sense of direction and purpose for our seeking, but yet, words are not the end goal.  Words are merely a starting point.  If you ask me for directions, I will give you words, "Go this way," or "Go that way."  The words will never get you to the point unless you "go."  The same is true with words that are in the Bible or whatever book you choose to be your "spiritual guide."  The words are not made to be deified or something to be worshipped.  I've seen people kissing their Bible like it is some magic book of spells or a genie in a bottle. If they carry it with them, it will bring them some great fortune.  I used to carry my Bible around with me everywhere I went thinking that it would bring me some sort of good luck.  Now, I didn't say "luck" because good Christians don't believe in luck (at least they won't admit it publicly).  The Bible doesn't have any special power in and of itself.

Even the book of John describes this "word."  It was in the beginning, it created everything, it was with God, and the word was God.  Yet, when describing "the Word" it is described not with "it" but a personal pronoun, "he."  It goes on even farther and describes "the Word" as having flesh and living among us.  "Word" or the Greek "logos", is used as an abstraction or figuratively.  The Word is an experience--it is a living person.  The words of the text lead you to "The Word," a person/experience.  It isn't that you get hung up on the semantics of signposts, but that you get to experience the destination in which the signpost points.  The destination is formless and filled with  experiences that are formless as well.  They are the abstract emotions that are felt and the energy experienced.  It is the experiences that awaken the inner life force that bring forth joy, peace, excitement, and a kingdom within that Jesus so frequently speaks about.

The words are forms, concrete and unmoved. That is why the Bible speaks of "his words" not changing (heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away--Matthew 24:35).  His concrete words are like signs that will sit there in a certain spot and point.  In this chapter he was giving the people directions, or a road map if you will.  Until the people began to move and walk towards the destination He speaks of, they will never experience the energy and life behind the words. 

There is no life in the WORDS, but in the experiences, the destination, and especially the journey.  Don't miss the journey you are on because you are paralyzed by the signpost.  My soul cries out: I WANT TO EXPERIENCE "LIFE"...not just read about it or sit by a signpost.