On June 19, 2012 I was 79 years old, and starting to live my 80th year. I decided to write down Things I Have Learned So Far:
10. You have time to come to believe
After the resurrection when Jesus appears to the disciples, according to the book of John, Thomas is not there. When the disciples tell him about it, he says he’s not going to believe until he touches the wounds with his own hands. And then Jesus comes to the room again and knows what Thomas wants and needs and Jesus tells him to go ahead. It’s wonderful to me that Jesus is open to Thomas and doesn’t admonish him for not believing outright.
I also love Jesus’ closing statement where John writes that Jesus says, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
It feels to me that Jesus is giving me time to “come to believe.” He’s giving me time to doubt, to wonder, to toss back and forth about truth or lack of. He’s letting me take moments and perhaps years to get to the belief place.
