I totally agree with Feynman that science does not destroy the beauty of the art that is around us, but rather increases it. Being able to imagine the incredible complexity of the things which are around us can only increase the enjoyment. As Feynman says, “Science knowledge only adds to the excitement, mystery, and awe of a flower. It only adds. I don’t understand how it subtracts.”

This is important to keep in mind. Asking questions about how the world works, and how things are put together, and how things have developed is an incredibly important, and extremely rewarding thing to do. We should not be content to stick our heads in the sand and ignore what is all around us.

Then, however, Feynman makes an interesting statement about what he calls “mystic answers” to important questions he admits can never be answered by science. Saying that if we expected science to give the answer to all the wonderful questions about who we are, why we are here, where we are going, and so on, you could easily become disillusioned.

Some think that belief in Jesus excludes any kind of desire to examine this world as it is, and learn about it. But those of us who believe in Jesus, believe that he created this world, and is actively working in it today holding, shaping, forming, and guiding it. So to study this world, as it is, is to study what our God has done, and is doing.

Just as the scientific knowledge about the flower increases  his appreciation of the flower, so the study of this world increases our understanding, and appreciation for God.

Feynman’s main reason for discounting the mystic answers to these wonderful questions science cannot answer? They are too simple.

“I can’t believe the special stories that have been made up about our relationship to the universe at large, because they seem to be too simple, too connected to …to… too local, too provincial. The earth. He came to the earth. One of the aspects of God came to the earth, mind you. And look at what’s out there. How can… It isn’t in proportion.”

Interestingly enough, one of the main criteria for determining whether a scientific theory is a good one or not is if it is simple; if it explains all the evidence with a minimal amount of explanation.

So, Feynman argues, we have to make room for doubt. We have to push aside these “easy” answers and leave room for doubt. But when “you doubt and ask, it gets a bit harder to believe.”

Doubting, and asking is important, but it does not make it harder to believe. Doubt actually makes room for faith. When we think we have all the answers. When we think we know how everything works and we exclude exploration of any answers to any of the questions then we have certainty, not doubt. Feynman’s exclusion of these so-called “mystic” answers to those wonderful questions, is not doubt but certainty.

He does not know what the answers are, but he is certain that these answers are wrong. He looks at the flower from one dimension, and excludes the other.

But what if they are right? What if there is a God who created this whole thing, and is currently involved in holding it all together? What if that God did take a special interest in this incredibly tiny portion of this immense universe? What if he is a personal God that loves us and came to rescue us from our own stupidity?

The way I see it, is to entertain these answers can only increase our appreciation of the world, not take away from it. Religion, mysticism, faith, whatever you want to call it, creates a sense of depth to our existence that can never be achieved by simply focussing on our scientific knowledge.

Faith “only adds to the excitement, mystery, and awe of a flower. It only adds. I don’t understand how it subtracts.”

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ” (Luke 11:9–10, ESV)

This passage has always been a bit difficult for me. I have run into too many people who have asked fervently and deeply for something that would be a real blessing to them. People deeply devoted to God who give strong evidence of their faith by the way they live. People who never receive from God what they so desperately seek.

Yet here is this bold statement of Jesus that we will receive what we ask for.

Everyone.

Simply ask, and you will receive.

I used to think that those who don’t receive are simply lacking something. There is a deficiency in their asking which makes it impossible for God to give what they ask. That is what the parable just before this statement seems to say.

“And [Jesus] said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ” (Luke 11:5–8, ESV)

It is certainly true that Jesus suggests we should be persistent in our prayers, but I wonder if there isn’t something more to this parable.

The man who goes to his friend to ask for something is not asking for anything for himself. He is asking for some bread for someone else who has come to him.

The petition is not for something for himself, but for others.

Maybe my prayers are too self-centred. Sometimes I can’t believe my own selfishness. There are people in this world starving because of a drought. Others who cannot get clean water. People in my own city living on the streets, or having their electricity turned off because they cannot afford it.

I do not pray fervently enough for them.

Beyond this I simply have to learn to trust God. Learn to trust that God will give good gifts, even though those gifts may not be what I expected, or even appreciated at the moment I get them.

I still don’t know what to do with this bold claim by Jesus that we receive what we ask. I am slowly learning to trust, however, and I have a feeling that is better by far than receiving anything I might ask.

I have a friend who designs smart homes around these technologies as well, customising every persons experience of the home based on individual settings.

While on vacation I started thinking about the DVD system that is installed in most vehicles. I wonder if it would be possible to connect a smartphone with an app that played movies over the smartphone with a DVD system in your vehicle.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to sit down in your own mini theatre and watch the latest films using the technology that so many of us already carry around in our pockets.

Perhaps the system could even use the gps capabilities in our phones and display them on the screens in the vehicle.

Most of the ones unpacked, however, are textbooks from 10years of post-high school education. Even with all these books I was saved from even more through the advent of Logos, a digital library system.

I recently started using Kindle on my smartphone and computer, and even though I prefer the touch, feel, and smell of a book, I can’t help but appreciate the fact that thousands of books can be accessed through these devices.

It made me think about my college experience. How every new semester I had to go to the bookstore and pick up 5-10 different books. Books that pilled up at home. Books I had to move. Books that were out of date in a year.

But what if someone like Logos, or someone else, decided to partner with a school to provide every new student with their own e-textbook? One that provided them with access to a virtual university bookstore where they could download their books? One that allowed them to cross-reference, search, highlight and annotate their books right on their tablet? What if those books were automatically updated as new editions came out?

I know I would have appreciated it.

Perhaps there is a good business opportunity here. hmmm….

I was struck buy how much of the singing expressed this deep devotion and commitment to God. A devotion that I, quite frankly, struggle with at times. There are times when I go after other things. There are many times that I put myself first. There are even times when doubts race through my mind. Questions like, “I am just being deluded? Is this all just cultural formation?”

The most risky one to voice, “Is this true?”

Risky, not because good Christian people never wonder this, but risky because there are some who think good Christian people SHOULD never wonder this. Maybe it is just my nature, and it is entirely possible that I do not have enough faith, but I have a feeling I am not the only one who struggles with this question.

My advice, continue the struggle. If it is true, it can stand up to scrutiny. It Jesus is real, you will find him. After all, Jesus promised that if you knock, he will open the door to you.

So dig, search, study, learn, but don’t simply give up because you have doubts. After all, even Jesus wrestled with faith and doubt. On the cross didn’t Jesus cry out to God that he had been abandoned. At the time of his deepest need, even Jesus felt lost and betrayed.

He never was abandoned, and neither will you be.

As I watched the one called “I miss the mob” I was struck by a few things.

(Click through to take a look at the video if you are on a reader)

“Never forget why you’re doing what you’re doing. Are you helping people? Are they happy? Are you happy? Are you profitable? Isn’t that enough?”

Some pretty intense questions dealing with contentment and direction. The essential question gets back to the motivation behind what we do. Why do you do what you do? To maximise your return on investment; whether that be money, or time, or emotion?

Sometimes we give a little and try to leverage that to get back a lot. In all kinds of areas of life. We want the maximum return for the minimum expenditure. But Sivers is really asking if that is the best motivation?

He is questioning the assumption that a blind pursuit of maximising profitability creates the best outcome.

It doesn’t. It takes all the fun out of life. It takes the flavourful kaleidoscope of life and distils it down to a single simple colour. Life is much more rich when we are creating something that connects people, that nurtures and encourages; something fun.

So, why do you do what you do?

When I start a new project, there is a fair amount of excitement. I am learning a lot. I am growing. I am seeing real progress.

To move from a blob of colour on a sheet of paper to a rather good representation of a tree makes me feel really good.

But then the progress slows and it takes more effort to get better. I seem to plateau, and I get bored with it and move on.

When things get difficult, I have a tendency to move on.

The net result of this in my life means that I am not really good at anything, and have forgotten how to do a lot of the things I dabbled in. Sometimes I feel as though everything should just come naturally.

Life should be easy.

The problem is, that would not make me into a very good person. I would be someone who was unable to relate to others. Someone who is unable, or unwilling, to commit to anything for the long haul. Someone who others could not count on.

If everything came easily, I would value nothing.

God’s first desire for us is to make us into better people, not to make everything easy for us. John Ortberg puts it this way:

"God isn’t at work producing the circumstances you want. God is at work in bad circumstances producing the you he wants." John Ortberg

I have come to realise that my desire for ‘easy’ is making my life less fulfilling. After all, doesn’t Paul say that perseverance produces character?

“[W]e rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. ” (Romans 5:2–4, NIV)

I’m not sure I’m too the point that I rejoice when difficult circumstances come my way, but I think I am starting to learn that I can use them as opportunities to grow.

If everything came easy, we would value nothing.