Divergent Thinking

 

Waiting in the presence of God frees the mind. Contemplating total Otherness is mysterious— the varieties of exchange in those transcendent moments when self is forgotten and God becomes all in all is endless. Conversations can be silent, in the warmth of knowing a loved one is near or they grow into a song in my heart. At times I get to talking; whenever I sense God’s listening ear, it’s like we are one, like His Spirit gives me the words to say. At other times, thoughts come; new thoughts, unexpected ideas and insights fill my mind. When that happens, I write them down to think about and check against Scripture later. I don’t trust everything that comes into my mind. Once several questions about creation and evolution surprised me. It’s likely that theologians and scientists have asked them too, and then written books full of answers, but they were new to me. Maybe they’ll be new to you. Here’s what I wrote.

Simple facts. Compounds are made up of elements. Some compounds are simpler and others are more complex.

Does that mean that all the minerals and carbons and very bit of stuff in the material world that is composed of complex compounds evolved from simpler combinations?

Is it theoretically possible that some stuff and/or organisms might have been complex in the beginning?

If that is possible, is it clear thinking to assert that all links and traces of simpler combinations are historically earlier and all complex patterns are later? And must every component in a mix be significant? Do all genetic changes within evolutionary lines indicate evolution? Sequence? Could it be that original creation, re-creation, or parallel creation and/or evolution used identical or similar materials and processes on similar foundations with similar building blocks?

Thinking pictorially, we don’t remove the piano keys if they are not played in a piece of music.

Thinking practically, we can’t fully eradicate traces of non-essential stuff that finds its way into the ingredients list of our favorite recipes— traces of pesticide in flour are allowable by the FDA; they also monitor the levels of allowable residues of rat droppings in chocolate. Would it be logical to link evidence of these superfluous ingredients in any essential or evolutionary way to historical development of the combinations of ingredients in our favorite cookie recipe?

Does this make sense?

Another thought—If all creatures are formed from the dust of the earth—or the minerals of the earth—that’s one point that scientists and theologians seem to agree on—could it be that the elements themselves have an as yet undiscovered synchronization?  A linking that necessitates the repetition of certain genetic patterns in ways that are totally unrelated to succession, progression, or sequence?

And if all is basically energy, what does that mean? Does energy itself predicate certain mixes?

The truth is, I don’t understand much of this. I’m no scientist or logician. I just know that sometimes, resting in the presence of God, thoughts come. Discernment is needed.