the curse of theology

The problem with theologians is that we know the end of the story. We have flipped to the last page of the book and read the conclusion. We know that the arc of eternity bends toward the good will of God...so sometimes we do not want to tarry in the un-good of the present. (Or maybe it is just because I am impatient? Just as God's property is always to be merciful and kind in all measures, my nature is to be anxious beyond measure!)

Over the last few days I have been dealing with the theology of promise---eschatology. In essence, eschatology concerns itself with the fulfillment of God's plan. Traditionally, people of faith have known this fulfillment to come in the "last days" or the "eschaton." But contemporarily eschatology means much more: it has to do with the hope of today because we believe that God's promise of completion--be it at the end of history or even beyond history--folds into the particularity of the present. In other words, the promise of what will be tomorrow is real hope that confronts the practical realities of this day.

Now to the point: because I believe that the end will be good, sometimes I rush toward that end to the neglect of dealing with this moment. It is not a simple otherworldiness, for which eschatology has rightfully been criticized. But nevertheless it is an attempt, in a sense, to bypass the Cross on the way to the Resurrection. And this hasty movement is problemmatic.

So I confess that I need to slow down and deal with the now...the present...the particularity...the immediate...the today. And this day might just be painful. I may not be happy during all of its hours. There may be tears...confusion...doubt...uncertainty. Yes there are big things to do...I must see the forest, but I cannot ignore the trees. And paradoxically, there is some joy in this.