Contradiction, It’s Where I Find Me
“Smack in the centre of contradiction is the place to be.” –Bono
Contradiction, it’s where I find me
Success all around, but I’m tempted to flee
Strength waning, pretending to be strong
Screaming out truth while living with wrong
My heart breaks, yet harder than stone
Surrounded with people, I feel so alone
Wisdom clear, can’t see in the fog
Desperate for conversation, busy with monologues
Contradiction, it’s where I find me
My grace is free, but I charge others a fee
Focused on the next acquisition, ignoring the soul
Consumerism rages, denying the God-shaped hole
Work ethic taught, lethargy overtakes
Foundations unyielding, yet easily shake
I know all the answers while confusion shouts
My faith is secure though I frequently doubt
Contradiction, it’s where I find me
Beauty everywhere though narrowly perceived
Full of creativity, too often empty
Living in scarcity, yet promised plenty
Our days long, our life short
Emotions rage, hate our sport
Wealth of opportunity, catalog of choices
World getting louder, muting important voices
Contradiction, it’s where I find me
Obsessed with acceptance, why care if they hate me
There’s chatter of courage, yet fear rules the day
Conviction is high, unless there’s a price to pay
Morality important, yet cramping our style
My aim is focused, I’ve missed by a mile
Souls transparent, pretending not to fake
Portraying translucent, diagnosis opaque
Contradiction, it’s where I find me
Hiding pride, shouting humility
I wear brave, I bleed afraid
I run away, I should have stayed
Enticed by more, never enough
Sadness grows as I get more stuff
Breakneck speed, barely awake
Will I finish the race, do I have what it takes
People of faith, oftentimes, feel they should have no doubts, no temptations, no contradictions, no questions and at the same time have an endless amount of faith and consistency oozing out of their pores.
We often forget about the life of one of the most integral Christ followers to ever live. A Christ follower who was forthright about his contradictions.
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” (The Apostle Paul) Romans 7:15
The Apostle Paul, smack in the centre of contradictions, it’s where we find him: Tempted, discouraged, weak, strong, courageous, content, confused, sure, sad, joyful.
“I have come to know a God who has a soft spot for rebels, who recruits people like the adulterer David, the whiner Jeremiah, the traitor Peter, and the human-rights abuser Saul of Tarsus. I have come to know a God whose Son made prodigals the heroes of his stories and the trophies of his ministry.”
Philip Yancey