The Creative Encounter by Howard Thurman
After reading “the creative encounter” by Howard Thurman, one gets the impression that he or she may not be in control of things in life. Thurman (14) argues that failure is inevitable even amongst the strongest and the best of men. One can be a captain of his soul, but captains are not always omnipotent, except by the grace of God (Thurman 23). What Thurman is trying to imply is that only God the almighty, can control everything and everyone in the universe. People, especially those in power, may enjoy being in control only in vocational relationships, extra curricula activities and academic endeavors and other professions in life. However, the problem may occur when they take this control beyond the spiritual life. People always tend to believe that they can control God and consequently believe that they also have control over their lives. However, these people often have challenges in life that makes them believe that there is some supernatural power or super natural being that has control over life and the universe at large.
Howard reminds the readers in his statement that if people surrender themselves to God they would have a fresh basis of action. This way, the one who surrenders himself to God will possess an integrated basis of action. In this case, the individual will have a true purpose of living and his life (Thurman 45). It is both comfortable and humble for humans to be aware that they do not have control of their lives and that they are a product of something that is much more superior to them in every way; this something is God. People ought to be humble because they must realize that God is always in control and that they should let him do so. People should be comfortable to know this because God know the right path to follow while he is under control; therefore, humans ought not to worry.
Howard says that God always starts to talks to an individual at the point of how that individual values and understands God. He talks of the “content of God” that is left within an individual. By saying this, what Howard implies is that the experience, heart, and the memory of that person in regards to what God has done in his or her life. This means that that person must have had close proximity with God such that he can understand who is God and what he can do. Thurman has quite an intriguing idea regarding God and what is sensible in life. Thurman’s idea of “God-residue” in an individual’s life concerns the judgment of an individual’s notion of God. Thurman (49) argues that whether an individual sees God as a caring father or a universal inspector, that view is considered sacred and a turning point in the relationship between humans and God. Significantly, Thurman is more concern with the convention between man and God.
While the readers try to digest Thurman’s concept, for Christian ministers, it ought to be a turning point for their writing, teaching and preaching in church. For some Christian churches, it should do some change regarding the understanding of God. Some of this is part of the duty of a minister, and it has a significant meaning to the lives of people. Thurman argues that if God has humbled himself to meet people, then even people who do not know much about him ought to be humble to meet him. If ministers would emphasize on how much people understand God, then they may start learning how God discloses himself to such people rather than forcing those people to have the same view as them (Thurman 63).
The message that Thurman is trying to pass to the audience is that the true understanding of God will only take place when man meets with God. This meeting has the characteristic of all meetings whereby communication ought to begin from some point. In such instances, communication might fail, but true communication results from exposure. This reveals why it may be almost impossible to make someone have the same understanding of God as his minister or his colleagues. This means that people often have the same understanding of God, but that may not mean that other people’s understanding of God is irrelevant or wrong. People interact with God in various ways depending on how they understand God. While some people believe that they can only interact with God when they close their eyes, others believe that they can do so with their eyes open. Other people believe that they must shout for God to listen to them, while others believe that God can hear them even while praying in their hearts. All in all, the interaction or meeting with God is what is significant. Thurman (76) argues that no one can make or force others to adopt their understanding of God.
For example, consider a family with three children, who are all females. One child may have a highly intimate and considerate relationship with her mother while the other two children may not get along with their mother. Suppose the one who is close with the mother asks the others how they think about their mother rather than criticizing them for mistreating their mother (Armstrong 34). The girl asks the others how they would describe their mother if they were total strangers to their mother. Once the girl hears the comments from the two girls, the two girls may probably ask the girl what or who their mother is to her.
Discussions like this often initiate betters understanding amongst people and perhaps and smooth revelation about the relationship of humans and the relationship with God. Perhaps the point where the communication between God and humans start is almost the same as the point where communication starts amongst the human being (Armstrong 42). Others may trust a sacred ground that someone might discover. The Quakers say that the divine is one who is responsible for a fresh life to humans when they listen to God. However, there is one thing that is quite holy and mysterious concerning genuine listening. The holy and mysterious thing is when God attends to people’s prayers or requests. When people feel that God attends to their prayers, they always feel that something comes alive within them. The people who always have such experience with God always do what normal people can do. They may be capable seeing what normal people can do, listening to what normal people can do and, speaking in ways that normal people cannot speak. This is what Thurman is telling the readers regarding those who have experiences with the divine. The experience is beyond the natural.
Works Cited
Armstrong, Karen. The Case for God. New York: Knopf, 2009.
Print.
Thurman, Howard. The Creative Encounter: An Interpretation of Religion and the Social
Witness. Richmond, Ind: Friends United Press, 1972. Print.
