Paradox

Yesterday my professor made a comment that touched upon the idea that life is full of paradoxes. Perhaps I have gone through life for the past 21 years unappreciative of this truth, but fully sinking in the reality that paradoxes are part of life makes the "complicators" and "puzzlers" in my life, ironically, much simpler.

A place where paradox is seen vividly is in the Bible. A quick example of contrast that I'm thinking upon in this moment is the truth that Jesus calls himself both "the lion" and "the lamb." Can one be fierce and soft? Soft-spoken, yet roar wildly? Strong, but still gentle? On a deeper level, can you love and still hate? Fear, yet be excited? Care, but crave apathy?

Yes.

Such paradoxes in human nature are all the more a testimony of God's great complexity. Being formed in his image we have a hint of this complexity, in our fallen human nature we have a taste of such a perfect, awesome creator. This, I suggest, is one of the -- if not the -- most profound paradox in humanity.