Living in Dichotomy

I have this tendency to psycho-analyze people–especially myself. In so doing, I have discovered things about myself that almost make me seem bipolar or like two very different people. I’m a pretty driven person and am goal-oriented but I’m also a homebody. I can be very bold in some situations but I have to fight the tendency to worry. I am happy to serve behind the scenes but I can also be a strong leader. I often feel cold but when I run I sweat a lot! (Side note: People at the gym sometimes look at me with a very concerned expression when I am all red and sweaty. I inherited this lovely physical attribute from my father. Thanks, Dad!) I get very sleepy and uninteresting between nine and ten o’clock at night but if I get my second wind very late at night an entirely different person shows up. (Just ask my family. It’s entertaining. I guess.) I’m pretty even tempered but then there are episodes with wallpapering or playing golf that seem like Mr. Hyde just showed up.

I really am a healthy person. I think. Well, mostly. God created me with so many different aspects to my personality and various situations will bring about various responses. I’m assuming you can relate. We are made in the image of God. And, really, there are many examples of dichotomy even with Him and in His Word.

Jesus Christ came to earth and was fully God yet fully man. That’s a huge dichotomy! He is a King but was born in a humble stable. He is the Lion and the Lamb. This always reminds me of a quote from C.S. Lewis in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe when the character Susan asks if Aslan the Lion is safe. Mr. Beaver replies, “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good…”

In the Bible I read that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30) When I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) When I give, it will be given to me. (Luke 6:38) The Beatitudes seem full of dichotomy. The poor will receive the Kingdom. The meek will inherit the earth. The hungry will be filled. We are to rejoice when we are insulted, falsely accused or persecuted because of our faith. (portions of Matthew 5)

We are called to live in this tension. We who are followers of Christ are already living our eternity with Him, although we have not yet seen Him face-to-face and we still exist in this fallen world. Each of us who has been reborn into God’s family is a new creation but still has an old sin nature to be reckoned with. It’s a struggle. Paul totally understood this struggle when he wrote, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do… For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7) That’s a lot of “do”s and it’s sort of funny to read aloud. Try it.

A new ritual I have begun now that I am home more often since retiring from teaching is having gentle music playing in the background and a candle burning. I like candles. You light one and the entire ambience of a room is changed. Instant calm. But, that same peaceful flicker glowing near me could quickly become a disaster if given the opportunity. A dichotomy. You remember that old Sunday School song “This Little Light of Mine”? The candle burning on the counter next to me as I write this reminds me of that song. Let’s live out this life of dichotomy being lights in the darkness. Don’t let your flame burn out and don’t let it cause destruction instead of peace and calmness. Just like bugs to a light, I hope our lights will draw others and that they can experience the warmth of God’s love just because they are near us. Praise to our big God who sees all and knows all and created all–because He also cares about every little thing going on with each of us. That’s a pretty sweet dichotomy.