The Gospel of John uses an intriguing description of Jesus in the first chapter. He says the Word was full of “grace and truth.” Those two words do not seem to go together. On the surface, they seem opposed to one another. That is the power of “And.” “And” recognizes the nuance that exists in a complex world, and in human character. “And” recognizes that “Or” draws a line in the sand, is narrowing, and leaves someone the loser. Truth, without grace, crushes and judges those around us. Grace, without truth, leaves a waffling trail of subjectivity. “And” is the word of maturity and balance.
We need “And.” We need grace and truth. We need solitude and action. Intentionality and spontaneity make great bedfellows. We need to challenge ourselves to move outside of our comfort zone and recover in the safety of familiar people and places.
Labels are a subtle way we use “or’ language. When I say I am an introvert (which is largely, but not always true), I am excluding the many situations in which I respond like an extrovert. Then, with that label, I box myself in to that self-imposed identity. I am more than a label. In reality, I am serious and I am fun. I am reflective and driven. Why limit my identity to a one-sided label?
Watch out for “Or” language! Notice the way it is used to limit ourselves and others. “Or” is rigid, unbendable. “And” realizes that we are always becoming. We are complex, nuanced people. We are capable of breaking out of boxes and labels.
What self-imposed label/box do you need to discard? What “And” do you need to embrace?
