Darwin seriously hit the nail on the head in at least one regard: when it comes down to it, we're all just a bunch of hairless apes. Chinese Chan thought anticipated this insight by centuries with its emphasis on transcending the inner Monkey Mind, and honorable mention must go to Howard the Duck creator Steve Gerber for carrying the torch of truth into contemporary(ish) times.
Just moments ago, I was enjoying a piping hot cup of coffee and reflecting--no bull--on the power of God to break into the pain and suffering of this fallen world and bring triumph and goodness out of the very evil, filth, and misery that befalls us; to, as the popular saying goes, write straight with crooked lines.
Continuing to reflect, I stepped on to an elevator and was, for all of 5 seconds, confronted with a tiny little (adult) senorita in nursing scrubs stepping off the elevator. In mid inner monologue sentence, my train of thought jumped from "...and so, the love of Christ..." to "...now that's what I'm talking about. Man, what I wouldn't give to..."
I managed to quickly reign myself in...this time. But I think it illustrates the brokenness of the human condition, the inability by the power of our own nature to focus on that which brings us the truest joy and peace, and the addictive power of counterfeit happiness which keeps us under its demonic thumb at all times.
In this Advent season, let's allow our struggle with the Monkey Mind make us ever more grateful for the inestimable condescension that is the Incarnation...that the Eternal Logos did not deem equality with God as something to be grasped at, but out of unwarranted love for us, was not ashamed to become one of us; to suffer our humiliations that we may share in his exaltation.
