July 29, 2005
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Reading a discussion on Fishtree’s site about the historic attempts to describe/define Christ’s nature (divine? human? both? uniquely neither?) reminded me of an old folk tale of India which was put into poetic form many years ago by Godfrey Saxe, and which I can remember from childhood. Even though it’s a little obvious, just for fun, here it is:
The Blind Men of Hindustan
There were six men of Hindustan, to learning much inclined,
Who went to see an elephant, though all of them were blind,
That each by observation might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the elephant, and happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, at once began to bawl,
“This mystery of an elephant is very like a wall.”
The second, feeling of the tusk, cried, “Ho, what have we here,
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear,
This wonder of an elephant is very like a spear.”
The third approached the elephant, and happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, thus boldly up and spake,
“I see,” quoth he, “the elephant is very like a snake.”
The fourth reached out an eager hand, and felt above the knee,
“What this most wondrous beast is like is very plain” said he,
“‘Tis clear enough the elephant is very like a tree. “
The fifth who chanced to touch the ear said, “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; deny the fact who can;
This marvel of an elephant is very like a fan.”
The sixth no sooner had begun about the beast to grope,
Than seizing on the swinging tail that fell within his scope;
“I see,” said he, “the elephant is very like a rope.”
So six blind men of Hindustan disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong;
Though each was partly in the right, they all were in the wrong!
I have often felt that as humans we are probably as simplistic(relative to the reality of God) in our efforts to describe the infinite, unfathomable God as the men in the poem. This is not to mock our attempts…far from it, when we meditate on God we follow in the honorable traditions of great men of God, from David to Bonhoeffer.We are encouraged to do so in scripture.
However, I am disappointed when Christians battle over differences between honestly held opinions….there is room for so much growth in discourse with respect. Bob Mumford, best known as a Charismatic minister, once said “the mark of the (sincere) Christian is TEACHABLENESS”…I always liked that
God Bless Your “Thinks” Today….Jim
Comments (4)
Hey Jimmish.
I remember reading this poem in my (college) freshman composition class. Not so long ago, GreatGrandpaDog and I were discussing it around the dinner table with SecureInTruth, The_Sentry, and several others who do not have blogs. You know, one of the best things I have ever read on the subject of the mystery of God turned into (a very long) blog entry entitled Father Weinandy: Theological Problems or Theological Mysteries? (See, even the title is itself long!) 
Not surprisingly, based on the title, it came from Dr. Thomas Weinandy’s excellent book Does God Suffer? And you know, all this time later and I am still reading on that book: one does not make it through very quickly, at least with any degree of absorption. (Of course, one tends not to make it through any book very quickly when one is in the midst of the college semester.)
Amen and Amen. To both of you.
The problem is.who is telling the story? Who has the clear picture of everything that is going on? The narrator is obviously not blind himself is he?
Jimmish: I am home from Texas now and able to reach your Xanga. It was nice to read the poem you posted. As Fishtree wrote it has been part of discussions we’ve had and I think contains a good illustration. I think often of the body of Christ, how it is made of many parts and each part serving an important function. No church, no denomination has a corner on the truth. I believe our enemy, Satan, promotes any parting over issues, because there is so much at stake, unity, which we are made for. I have appreciated the comments I’ve read from you at my Xanga and a few others, mainly Fishtrees.