Contingency / Contingency / Contingency

‘Where’ have you come across such ‘repeated word’ emphasis before? Yes: ‘Location / Location / Location’ has created it’s own ‘imagination value’ when we ‘inter-relate’ on the subject matter of “where we might like to live”. So, why make this particular ‘title-theme’ compete – on a similar ‘treble rating’ – for your consideration? That’s the question / here’s the answer.

The word ‘contingency’ (i.e. ‘chance’ events that ‘may’ or ‘may not’ happen) was introduced in a recent article: Our ‘Divine’ / ‘Human’ Dilemma. Now – after further reflection – we offer three reasons to ‘dig deeper’ ::: the 1st is mathematical: ‘33’ (‘3 x 11’) – the impact ‘memory key’ of ‘medium messages’ appearing on this website ::: the 2nd is to ‘catch your attention’ – ‘capture your awareness’ ::: the 3rd is about ‘grace’ – ‘where God & humans PLAY / PRAY (‘Perfect Love Answers Yes’ / ‘Perfect Relationality Answers Yes’).

Ok! Are you ready? You are about to ‘Anxiously Behold Commonality’ (ABC) on the stage of the ‘theatre of life’. The curtains ‘roll back’ and all is ‘Wonder Exasperation Blueprint’ (i.e. a ‘WEB’ of intrigue). Yes! I’m trying to describe a ‘minute’ aspect of your ‘everyday-life-experience’, ‘where’ you say to yourself ::: “what’s going-on?” / “where am I?” / “is this for real?”. In the ‘blink of an eye’ your personal ‘life drama’ is unfolding in ‘face-to-face’ mode (whether you like it or not!).

Seven ‘phenomena’ appear in the scene. Six are clearly identifiable characters ::: ‘Gift Grace Glory’ (i.e. 3 G’s with divine ‘meanings’) ::: ‘Receive Restore Return’ (i.e. 3 R’s with human ‘meanings’). However – in between – one ‘manifestation’ is unclear ::: there is a ‘life & death’ struggle going on between the ‘horizontal’ (secular way of life) and the ‘vertical’ (spiritual way of life). You are – instantly – ‘caught-up’ in the ‘minutiae’ of ‘human fears / desires’ vis-a-vis ‘divine amazement / celebration’.

And, all this – sometimes – happens before you have ‘one eye half open’! The immediate difficulty is determining a personal response (in one’s ‘cloud of unknowing’) ::: ‘stuck or free’ / ‘lost or found’ / ‘bewildered or enlightened’? Interpretation will hinge on ‘frame of reference’ / ‘point of view’ / ‘attitude’. If your only concern in life is ‘self’ you are likely to “switch off” all other      distractive intrusions, but, if your outlook is ‘open to others’ you are likely to “engage / partake / relate ”. Thus, ‘contingencies’ have ‘horizontal’ (worldly) and ‘vertical’ (spiritual) dimensions ::: reciprocal / mutual / complementary ::: transforming the “old” into the “new” ::: giving ‘meaning relevance purpose’ to the cross.

On the one hand, the big lesson we learn is that our ‘natural human identification’ with “me” is our ‘natural human downfall’ in the ‘events / journeys / stories’ of life ::: “me” unwittingly becomes our ‘default’ ‘obsession / obstruction / obstacle’. On the other hand, “we” – in blessed generosity to ‘others’ – welcomes the ‘touch’ of God’s ‘grace’ ::: forming inter relational social / spiritual ‘options / openings / opportunities’.

Life is simple, but, it ain’t easy. The choice to be “open” or “closed” is at the core of ‘single / social / spiritual’ ways of living. ‘Bad News’ arises – in the maelstrom of our ‘fallen’ nature – ‘where’ many ‘conditioning’ factors – ‘traumas / trials / tribulations’  – bring ‘confusion / fear / pain’. ‘Good News’ flows ‘where’ we follow Jesus’ call to JOY (‘Join together’ / ‘Open the word’ / ‘Yes to Christ’) ::: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are over burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

An example of a ‘contingency’ incident ‘unfolded’ on The Road to Emmaus: two followers of Jesus – departing Jerusalem (in ‘downcast’ mode) – are ‘Joined’ by a ‘stranger’, who ‘Opens’ the ‘word of God’ to them and they experience that ‘Yes’ to ‘Christ moment’ ::: “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them” (Luke 24:30) ::: “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him and He vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:31) :::  “And they said to one another, did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the scriptures to us” (Luke 24:32).

So, ‘contingency’ encounters are the ‘reality’ of each moment, if only we had ‘eyes to see’. Instead of having a ‘negative’ (defensive) attitude to God’s ‘generative presence’ – ‘where’ the ‘visible’ reveals the ‘invisible’ – we need to adopt a ‘positive’ (child-like) attitude to God’s ‘grace’ ::: “Let  the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). For – as has been stated many times on this ‘Konect 1-2-1’ website – ‘it’s only in the present moment that God and the soul can meet and bless each other and PLAY / PRAY’.

Addendums: (1) Let’s revisit, briefly, the “IT” paradox ::: ‘Information Technology’ seeks ‘control’ and, as such, is ‘closed’ to God’s ‘contingent grace’ ::: ‘Incarnation Trinity’ is ‘God / human relationality’ and, as such, is ‘open’ to God’s ‘contingent grace’. (2) ‘Head Heart Hands’ in communion with ‘Father Son Holy Spirit’ = “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. (3) Finally (‘in a nutshell’): ‘Contingency is ‘where’ God touches lives’ (33).