PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

August 18, 2024

A VARIETY OF OPTIONS

                In 1947 a Bedouin boy found in a cave, jars full of ancient scrolls.  Two years later Father Roland de Vaux explored the cave where the scrolls were found.  Father de Vaux also found other caves with scrolls and the ruins of a community that dated to the time of Jesus.  Today, the scrolls are known as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the nearby community Qumran

Professor John R. Hale in his discussion of the scrolls and the Qumran community (Exploring the Roots of Religion, The Great Courses) notes that not everyone agreed with de Vaux’s conclusion.  Some thought the ruins were a Roman villa, a manufacturing center, or a military outpost.  While Professor Hale thought these competing ideas were somewhat far-fetched, he still defended their introduction into the discussion.  In support of this position, he quoted from the historian Herodotus.  In his History of the Persian Wars Herodotus says according to Hale, “It is important all views be expressed for if we do not hear many opinions, how can the best be chosen?  In the same way that if we are trying to tell true gold from other metals, many samples must be examined.” (Exploring the Roots of Religion, lecture #32, Writing the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran)

Many years ago, when I was president of the LaPorte Mental Health Association we had a speaker for our annual meeting who talked about the importance of collecting a variety of opinions on a subject before we make a decision.  He asked each of us to write down five ways to improve a fork.  Then he asked us to write five more.  When he finished most of us had twenty-five ways to improve the fork.  While most of them were rather far-fetched, there just might be one among them which would have some real possibility.

When most of us make a decision, we have the tendency to latch on to the first thing that comes to mind or default to past ways of looking at things and acting.  What this means is that there may be better possibilities that we never even consider.  I suspect that all of us need to be more creative in our thinking if we want to get the best out of life.

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John you will find the calling of Nathanael (John 1:43-51).  Following his own decision to follow Jesus, Philip goes to tell his brother that he has found the one about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth.  “Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’  Philip said to him, ‘Come and see (John 1:46).’”  Philip was telling Nathanael that he needed to expand his options about the possibilities for people from the small town of Nazareth.

Shopping is not one of my favorite activities.  I see it primarily as a necessity which needs to be done.  Consequently, when I go shopping, I take a list and as quickly as possible everything I find want, pay for it, and leave.  However, there are times when it would serve me well to take a little more time and explore my options.  This may be when I am looking for something that I have never bought before.  There are times when there is some advantage to see what is new or what is on sale.   In this way I can make the best choice possible.

There is some comfort in just sticking to the old ways.  However, there are times when it is to one’s advantage to explore a variety of options to arrive at the best choice.

(Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)