Paradoxes

I’ve become a student of paradoxes, those apparent contradictions that occur and puzzle us because those opposites can’t possibly be true at the same time, but somehow they are. I don’t see them in the same category as political paradoxes where a candidate will flip-flop or contradict himself in different speeches, or when he or she makes a pronouncement with contradictions where one is obviously not true. I’m talking about paradoxes that highlight our limited understanding of life and its complexities. Some examples:

Exercise: I find it interesting that the more we exercise and tire ourselves out, the greater capacity for energy we have. The more you use; the more you have.

Love: We tolerate curmudgeons, but we love lovers, those full-of-life energists who exude such good vibes that we feel happier just being around them. The more you give love; the more you have.

Failure: Ignoring the ego pain it causes for a moment, there is a contradiction in that sometimes a failure is the best thing that can happen to us. It is the seed bed of greater success. The greatness of Michael Jordan was born during his sophomore year of high school. Edison, Twain, Lincoln, Washington, Einstein, and I (in high school and as a writer) point to the value of the grand failure.

I suppose I could think of a dozen more examples, but then this would be too long for a blog. What I really think is that all of these point to the creativity, freedom, and wisdom of our Creator, who seems to be telling us in many ways, “It’s all good. You just don’t see it.”