A Puzzlement

I was in theater all my years in high school. Loved to act, loved plays. The KIng and I is a terrific play. Yul Brynner was fantastic as the king of Siam, trying to deal with change and the influence of the western culture upon himself and his country. He has a solo which is called the title of this post. He reflects on life and all the changes and variables involved and declares it to be a puzzlement. Wise words.

Life can be very difficult. Everyone has their own unique brand of difficulties to handle. I am humbled so often by the struggles i read about that happen or did take place in peoples lives. I wonder what it is that can cause some people to crumble and disintegrate almost and others to become strong and sturdy??? We are all human, we all have the same body parts, gender specific that is, all bleed the same blood. We sure do have quite a variety of background in our cultures,family dynamics, religious and political persuasions,socio-economic backgrounds. Our personal beliefs differ quite dramtically as well. It is not just christianity that splinters itself into so many subgroups. Buddhism,hinduism,islam,paganism all have some variance within the core of their belief system. So much information, so much to take in and wrap ourselves around with our essence of who we believe we are,what we believe is true.

Jesus is the One who stands out to me, ever and always. He has been the lightning rod for what gives life its meaning and purpose. No other person has elicited such intense thought,emotion and action as Jesus has. It is a puzzlement that even to those who commit to being His followers, that they tend to in so many ways have a love/hate relationship with Him. We can want to be put to death for Him and then also want things that have nothing to do with Him all within a very short period of time. A genuine remarkableness is that He understands and gives total love,grace and acceptance regardless of our failings in remaining loyal and true to Him.

Why are there so many who have lived in places where Jesus is not the cental focus??? Where perhaps He may not even be really known?? How can He declare He is the Way,Truth and Life and that no man will see the Father apart from Him??? I don't know the answers to that. I do believe that in order for Him to BE who He claims to be- the ANSWER who reconciles us back to God our Creator, He HAS to provide a way for any and all people to belong to Him. How this is accomplished??? That will continue to be a constant pursuit. Jesus said He went to prepare a place for us. He came that we may have life, and that life is to be eternal. If He is not who He clams to be then as the DaVinci Code said, He is the greatest con of all time. I choose to believe He is no con. Even so, very often, a puzzlement.