In the books, every time somebody assumed the thoughts and motives of another, something disastrous would happen. Now I find that this does not always happen in real life, but having this attitude or mindset never really helps maintain healthy friendships or any relationships for that matter. Constantly confining someone to who I think they are or should be, confines the potential for healthy growth and development in the relationship with that person. I think often times we do this as a quick fix in order to mask or hide pain, fear, and confusion. But making someone out to be who I want them to be, limits me from ever really getting to know them. And not spending time really learning about who someone is; what drives them, what they are passionate about, how they feel deep down (all the things we generally assume) not only limits the possibility of relationship development, but also limits my growth as a person. And that is scary.
What is scarier still is that I tend to be this way with Jesus. For some reason I walk around thinking I have Jesus all figured out. I like to think I know what Jesus would say or do, or the stance he would take on certain issues. By projecting my own thoughts and values on Jesus, I can justify behavior or feel more in control of the whole Christian life thing. But putting Jesus in a box never provides me the fulfillment I long for, nor does it allow my relationship with him to grow in healthy ways. If I am honest about my Christian life, the times that are the most impactful and meaningful, are the times in which Jesus reveals himself to being other or more than I previously thought or expected. If I can not expect to sum up the complete complexities of another person's inner being, how can I expect to do the same with a man that was also God? Honestly I hope I never have Jesus "completely figured out." The surprises are the best part. Maybe I'm on to something...or maybe this is just another musing of a modern-day sasquatch...
