right time, right place?
Chapter 01/2024
A Calvinist is never late nor early; they arrive precisely at the time predestined for them. (Just a humorous twist on the theological concept of predestination)
Happy New Year to you all!
Reflections on a timeless Journey.
In the symphony of life, timing is an elusive conductor orchestrating the symphony. As we step into the new year, the concept of being in the right place at the right time resonates deeply.
Life unfolds not only in the ticking of seconds but in the poetic interplay of Chronos and Kairos. Chronos, the measured time, and Kairos, the opportune moment, intertwine to create the cadence of our narrative. The dance between routine and serendipity shapes our destiny.
The dance between Chronos and Kairos!
The past and the future are but specters compared to the vibrant canvas of the present. To be fully present is an act of profound mindfulness—an acknowledgement that every heartbeat is a note in the celestial composition of our existence.
Immersion to the Here and Now!
Oh yes indeed, we know perpetual distraction, in this, the commitment to presence becomes a revolutionary. To be there, here, now is a testament to connection we share with the moments, the people, who accompany us as on our journey.
Navigating presence!
Within life’s intricate dance, intuition emerges as the silent conductor of the soul’s orchestra, guiding us through the nuanced crescendos and diminuendos of our existence. By entrusting ourselves to this inner symphony, akin to God’s orchestrated and predestined masterpiece, we gain the finesse to navigate the complex labyrinth of will, choice, predestination, acts of faith, divine will, and the spiritual values woven into the tapestry of our journey with our community and family.
Unveiled navigation – just intuition or guided and orchestrated masterpiece?
A divine choreography is described in Romans 8:29-30: “For those God foreknew he also predestined … and those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 9:16, So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has Mercy. This verse reinforces the fundamental concept that our life’s journey is not contingent upon the sheer force of human will or strenuous efforts. Instead, it underscores that the trajectory of our path finds its foundation in the profound and unmerited mercy extended to us by God.
In essence, Ephesians 2:8 encapsulates the essence of divine Grace as the transformative force in our lives. It articulates that our salvation is not a result of our individual efforts or achievements but is, in fact, a gracious gift bestowed upon us by the divine.
Divine Choreography, Mercy, Grace, Faith and maybe some predestination after all?
Why don’t Calvinists ever play hide and seek?
Because good luck hiding when you’re already predestined to be found!
How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
Busy debating whether the light bulb autonomously chose darkness or if its fate was predetermined, Calvinists find themselves in a theological quandary.
Some approaches to this very difficult quandary;
None. The bulb was predestined to be changed from the beginning.
None. The light bulb , it seems, was ordained for transformation from the very beginning. It will self-heal and turn back on without being changed.
None. Because God predestined that darkness would reign until the appointed time.
None. Because it was predestined that the The Light would never go out.
None: The light bulb was never God’s plan.
None. Because Calvinists don’t walk in the dark.
None. God’s sovereign plan for the light bulb was set before the foundation of the world, and who are we to interfere?
None. Why do they need a light bulb it they they believe in the perseverance of illuminated saints.
None … yet!!! They’re waiting for God to send them a sign that it’s time to change the bulb.
Here are a few takeaways from this passage in summary.
Chronos and Kairos perform an exquisite dance, each note resonating with the divine choreography described in Romans 8:29-30.
Our journey, guided by the silent conductor of intuition, echoes the divine orchestration mirrored in Ephesians 2:8 and the unmerited mercy underscored in Romans 9:16. In navigating the labyrinth of will, choice, predestination, acts of faith, and divine will, we find ourselves immersed in a tapestry woven with threads of His Grace.
Whether we find ourselves immersed in our theological quandaries with or without the light bulb joke regarding Calvinists, humour woven into these reflections helps with understanding some of the twists and turns in our spiritual journeys.
In the end, the dance persists—a dance where mercy, grace, and faith intermingle, and
here, even predestination finds a rightful place, echoing our shared acknowledgement that He is Almighty while we are but travellers navigating the ever-changing landscapes of spiritual seasons.
Wishing you all an enlightened start to this New Year 2024!
Philemon