Why I Love Being Here

Earlier this week I unexpectedly received a call from an old acquaintance (funny that I can now legitimately say that I have ''old'' acquaintances here in Germany).

She and her husband both exude a strong sense of intellectual competence. Both have studied philosophy at the graduate level, and very actively work to deepen their knowledge of all things philosophical. As they at one point said, ''we believe that all truth can be found inside of ourselves, we don't look to a being outside of our consciousness''.

All well and good, except for the recurring moments in our 6 hour conversation when I could hear the desperation and frustration in their voices because at the end of the day they could not accept that I had found answers to life's deepest questions and that these answers were available to anyone. Their world view was built around the touchstone that no one can have certainty about any truth. This, of course, because no person is perfect, so their conclusions can also never be perfect. The only solution, and the one which I believe is best supported, is that truth can be measured against an outside source, a loving creator who desires that we be drawn to and accept truth.

Naturally, we will still choose to distort the truth given to us. Our sinful natures and the flawed views of life passed on to us from other less-than-perfect humans practically assure this. I would argue, however, that the core beliefs of Christianity as found in the Bible can be agreed upon by those willing to take a careful look.

One must be willing to allow the possibility of God into one's world view, however. And this, for many, is the greatest challenge to belief. I don't know if God used our conversation to help this couple find answers. I hope so.

I do know, however, that there is no place I would rather have been last night than in their kitchen enjoying their hospitality and willingness to discuss questions of importance.