Curious Christian

Every map begins with a choice: what to include, what to leave out. Theology, too, is a mapping exercise, an attempt to make sense of the vast and mysterious territory we call God. The traditions we inherit are rich with structure and insight, charted carefully by those who came before. But I find myself wondering: by following these old maps too closely, what parts of the territory have we failed to explore? What questions are we overlooking? Christ did not give us a system, he gave us stories, gestures, parables that puzzled and healed. He drew in the dust, touched the untouchables, ate with the alienated. Perhaps to follow him faithfully today, we need to hold our maps more loosely, and listen again for his voice in the places our doctrines have yet to name.