The Happy Homeschool

Creative homeschooling inspiration rooted in relationships for the non-conformist, dedicated parent

  • Home
  • Blog/Podcast
  • Members
    • THH Heartbeat Member Home Base
    • Log In
    • My THH Account
  • The Store

Theologians, Four Year Olds, and Balls of String

March 9, 2011 by Laura Blodgett 10 Comments

The supposed conundrum is that:  Since God is so far above us, what can we do to know Him?  Surely, we need an army of experts, is the loud claim.  Ignoring all evidence that God has made the apparently impossible stunningly simple, people proceed to codify and complicate matters.  It is like a group of four year-olds electing the best readers amongst them to go read their parents’ libraries and return with a report about what an adult is and how to interact with one.
Really, the only viable methods to know their adults are  1) spending time with them and 2) personal maturity.  Strangely enough, one leads to the other.  The four year-olds may gain a few insightful tidbits from such study, but these will be distorted by their current levels of understanding such that the advantage is quite negligible.  Or, worse yet, they could get so caught up in these “little jewels”  that they forget the main goal of knowing the adults in their lives.  However, they will probably get to call themselves adultologians.
Like a patient parent, God holds out His hand, inviting us to get to know Him, and rather incidentally, mature by the process.  He has lovingly surrounded all of us with creation’s messages of his provision and magnificence.  It all sings out of His qualities of Father and Redeemer; and His written Word is there to help the spiritually tone deaf to follow along.  Like stubborn children, some people drown out the obvious beautiful melody in favor of their own fanciful, but cheerless, philosophies.  They think that if they scream out their positions loudly enough, they are showing some sort of intellectual superiority.
In the story, The Princess and the Goblin , by George MacDonald, trusting God and His direction is described as following a string.  The string is always readily available, easy to follow, and contrary to human wisdom.  (consider Colossians 2:6-10)  Attention to it’s guidance is both saving and full of adventure.  No expertise needed;  just trust.  This approach, of God’s, does not congratulate the haughty, so it is usually bypassed by those who “love to have preeminence.”  They find it much more satisfying to be in charge and lead others down whatever path they choose to follow.
The word “theology” means “the study of religious doctrines and matters of divinity,” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th edition).  Jesus Christ, and His first apostles, speak only of knowing Him – and only Him.  Walking with Him.  Being a friend, a bride, a son, a living temple occupied by Him.  Part of a family.  Who needs a theologian?

Filed Under: Bible News Press (BNP), Heart and Mind, Worldview

Comments

  1. Erika says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    Excellent observations..so true. I love the first paragraph.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      December 16, 2019 at 4:33 pm

      Erika, it came to me while I was napping this afternoon, which I found humorous. 😀

      Reply
  2. Beth says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    Very nice analogy. I’ve heard the ‘simple enough that everyone can understand it and complex enough that no one can comprehend it’, but this explores how narrow that range is from God’s perspective, no matter how broad it looks to us humans.

    Reply
  3. Erika says

    March 9, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    Excellent observations..so true. I love the first paragraph.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      March 9, 2011 at 6:14 pm

      Erika, it came to me while I was napping this afternoon, which I found humorous. 😀

      Reply
  4. Beth says

    March 9, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Very nice analogy. I’ve heard the ‘simple enough that everyone can understand it and complex enough that no one can comprehend it’, but this explores how narrow that range is from God’s perspective, no matter how broad it looks to us humans.

    Reply
  5. LuAnn and Lily says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    All I want is Jesus. All I need is Jesus. Nothing else!
    What the Bride wants is Jesus. What the Bride needs is Jesus.
    Nothing else!

    Reply
  6. LuAnn and Lily says

    March 10, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    All I want is Jesus. All I need is Jesus. Nothing else!
    What the Bride wants is Jesus. What the Bride needs is Jesus.
    Nothing else!

    Reply
  7. Rachael says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    Loved this!

    Reply
  8. Rachael says

    March 14, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Loved this!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get your copy of
my Best 25 Homeschool Tips!

Sign up for the Dangerously Helpful Homeschool Dispatch to get these 25 tips. They will make it easier and more fun to set and reach good goals for your family's homeschool experience.

    We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
    Built with ConvertKit

    My other blogs


    • Fun Learning Chinese

    • Daily Improvisations

    • Fun Fitness After 50
    • Fun Learning Chinese
    • Daily Improvisations
    • Fun Fitness After 50
    • LauraBlodgett.com

    The Happy Homeschool is a project by Laura Blodgett

    About Laura Blodgett

    Making sure you know that

    Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, including affiliate links from amazon.com. See disclosures here.

    Contact

    Contact Me
    First
    Last
    reCAPTCHA

    To listen to The Happy Homeschool on Apple Podcasts:

    Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in