So, Monday, I began with the reorganization of my quiet time around prayer and meditation on one verse per week - starting with the Navigator’s HAND illustration (web link provided with Monday’s post) - Romans 10:17.
I guess I need to continue with two confessions:
First, the reason my quiet time is scheduled for 0500 is that, by the time I’m showered and ready for work, my mind is usually fully engaged with the tasks I’m aware of for the day. This has been the case as long as I can remember. First thing in the morning, before caffeine kicks in fully and the day starts to intrude. Even with that, though, the recent lack of discipline has shown up as mental noise as this exercise begins. I don’t intend to perform eastern mystic meditation but, as the inimitable theologian, Brain, often said, my intention is to “Focus, Pinky”. Given past experience and the continued ability to get lost in activities, I anticipate it will return with time and practice.
The second confession is far more sinister. It came from some of yesterday’s mental noise. While I don’t recall the Navigator explanation saying anything of the sort, I have, apparently, conflated the fingers of the HAND with an experience or learning taxonomy that says things like ‘we only remember 10% of what we hear, 20% of what we read’ and so on. And, I apologize to any of you who I might have taught the illustration from that vantage point.
Why apologize for such a perspective - especially since many of us agree with it and have some anecdotal support for it? Well, because it is wrong. I’ll leave a link down below for a place where you can start chasing it down, if you are so inclined. If you are not so inclined, I’ll take it as further evidence that we tend to accept things that seem scientific even if they are blatant fabrications. As a general rule of thumb, it may be healthy to be skeptical of any ‘evidence’ that is made up of all round numbers, easy division, or too neat explanation. This is at least evidence of generalization.
Also, check the references. If there are none, then you have to assume no actual research or study was done. And, as in this case, if you check the references, you’ll find that they deny having presented such results. So, it was either made up by a liar or, perhaps, a marketing department.
The problem with applying such numbers to this illustration is that it infers strongly that each means of grasping or wielding scripture is somehow inferior to the subsequent ones and inadequate for its purpose. I realized this morning, after thinking about the conflation for a full day, that each of the ‘fingers’ of the illustration serves a definitive purpose - not a cumulative one that is only realized upon the final digit, the thumb - meditation.
While varied and repeated exposure to material does seem to increase retention and understanding, that is not the crux of this illustration.
It is getting late so I will close with the intention to more directly address Romans 10:17 tomorrow. For now, I’ll just repeat the content:
So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.
Sleep well.
