Talking About Faith

It was well past bedtime when Poly came into my room, his mind full to bursting with wonder at the universe. Apparently, during his spare time, he had been researching about black holes, dark matter, and subatomic physics. He chatted on and on about how amazing the creation is and how much we've yet to discover, and our conversation naturally drifted toward God and where He fits into all this.

Even though it was getting late, and Poly should be in bed, I hated to discourage this conversation. I knew it was a special moment for him--a moment of discovery, enlightenment, awe. He toyed with the idea that eventually, when science is capable of doing everything, when the extent of our knowledge is complete, human may not need God any more. I had to slowly bring him back to the reality that God is not a filler for our lack of scientific knowledge. He is not a stand-in for things we can't explain. Even when we've learned all that there is to be learned in science (though I doubt that day will ever come), we will still need God because we are spiritual beings, and science can never, ever touch on spiritual matters. I think Poly went to bed excited, still pondering all these questions and answers in his young mind.

I am excited for him. He is at the threshold of growing into an independent human being, with his own ideas and opinions. Soon, the faith we have taught him all his young life will need to transform into something else, something that's uniquely his. I am excited, but I'm also keenly aware of how critical and how precious this transitional period is. There will come a time when his knowledge of modern science and even philosophy will supercede mine, and then, even then, I need him to trust me with spiritual inquiries.

I went to a talk the other day about a curriculum called "World View" by Corner Stone Curriculum Project. After tonight's discussion, I realized Poly is ready for something like that, and is in fact in need of something like that. It is time for him to flex his wings and learn to fly.