Submitted by Pastor Donna Clark Fuller,

Rock Port and Watson United Methodist Churches

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he reminds us that our knowledge is limited. Only when we come into the full presence of God will we have complete knowledge. God already knows us, but what we know of God, and of each other and the world, is a little like trying to see in the dark. We see some things, but miss others. We see things in the dim light, not in clear, full light.

We don’t like to think that there is too much we don’t know. When we are children, we know we have a lot to learn. We think our parents know everything. Sometimes when we get a little older we realize our parents don’t know everything, but we begin to think we know more than we do, or even more than our parents know. Sometimes the beginning of wisdom is realizing how much we don’t know.

Every human being has experiences that are unique. So we know things that no one else knows. But other people also know things that we don’t know. We often make assumptions to fill in the gaps of our knowledge and this can be a dangerous thing to do. Even scientists with their more rigorous disciplines of research are always changing what they know of the world, because they, like the rest of us, are limited humans.

Paul’s words come at the end of his great description of love as patient, unselfish, truthful, and that which never fails. Maybe the beginning of love is understanding that there is much we don’t know, and the willingness to see more out of the darkness. Maybe it is in prayer that we can come into the presence of God and see a little more clearly what it is that God knows.