In the 18th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus discusses the kingdom of heaven with his disciples.  The disciples, thinking they will get the answer to set them perfectly upon their path, inquire of Jesus,  “Who is the greatest in the kingdom?”  

Jesus responds, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

One can only imagine how the disciples received and understood this message.  Looking at it from this post-Covid 19 pandemic time we live in, I can’t help but wonder if what Jesus was trying to say here was that, in order to truly know and understand the words, actions, attitudes of those around us in the world claiming to follow Christ, G-d, the Divine, we must first humble ourselves and acknowledge we don’t have all the answers, that reason alone, rational knowledge alone, doesn’t explain their actions which contradict whom they claim to be.  Perhaps turning and becoming like children means returning to that world view we way-fared along in our youth, that view of awe and wonder.  Rather than seeing their actions, hearing their words, learning their attitudes towards the poor, the immigrant, the needy, the sick and immediately thinking how their actions contradict who they are.  Perhaps, we are called to wonder and imagine, how best we can tap into that dimension of love, that fire of love, within and be vessels of transformation.  Rather than thinking, “They are hopeless.  They infuriate me.”  maybe, just maybe, wondering how love might best transform the situation, your relationship with them and perception of them better manifests the world we desire and expect than being critical and thinking or actively being negative toward them.

In the 17th century Rene Descartes helped usher in the age of reason, the Enlightenment, with his teachings that knowledge of eternal truths could be attained by reason alone, no experience required.  

Descartes, Rationalism, the Enlightenment all gave us Rodin’s The Thinker in The Gates of Hell, seated with his back turned to those in misery all around him.  Focused internally on his thoughts.  Focused on this physical, earthly existence.  Focused on making rational sense of the situation he now finds himself in the midst of all the chaos at the gates of hell.

Does reason alone really answer the chaos, the suffering, the wrongs, the need, the lack of compassion, care, concern we see around us?  Jesus didn’t ask his followers to “understand” one another and the world around them, he didn’t ask them to rationalize or explain away the destructive actions of some towards their neighbor, their brother and sister.  Jesus commanded his followers to “Love on another, as I have loved you.”

Is that kind of love rational?  Is love ever based on reason alone? Can that kind of love ever be known? or must that kind of love be experienced?  

My rational mind readily and flatly answers NO to the first three questions.  My heart affirms with each beat the answer to the last question.

The thinker turns the attention to the physical realm seeking knowledge and a reason.  The wonderer, opens the heart to truly know, experience, inflame and reflect that wisdom through their thoughts, actions and words.

The thinker asks, why?  

The wonderer in that dimension of love asks how? how can this be? how can I take part in transforming this wrong? how can I reflect that love, the divine, in this situation?  What kind of world would would this be like if I could love like the divine Love?

The wonderer feels that fire within their soul and opens themselves to acknowledging that fire, that inner burning for more, for justice, for love and acts.  The thinker, sees the lack, the darkness, the negativity and explains it away with reason.  Never, truly offering a way to transform or transcend it, only offering a false solution with their rational explanation.

The questions before each of us wayfaring wonderers today is, do we still feel the fire? can we tap deeper into the dimension of the wonderer? are we ready to tend to the fire of our soul?