The Yin and the Yang

No, this is not a post about Buddhism, but the Yin-Yang philosophical concept of opposites can help us to see the reality of things.

It’s helpful to think of opposites when trying to comprehend the physical world. If we need to better understand the color “white”, it helps to study the color “black”. If we can understand that black is the absence of visible light, it helps us to recognize how white contains all the wavelengths of visible light at equal intensity.

When problem-solving, it’s helpful to study opposites as well. Ask, “What is not a problem?” Suppose your Chrome web browser will not connect to the internet through your Wi-Fi. If your wireless printer is OK, your Wi-Fi is likely working fine. If your email gets through, your PC is likely OK also. If your Firefox & Safari browsers are working, then the Chrome application itself is suspect.

Another concept in problem-solving that relates to opposites is something called “The Should”. The extent to which we understand how a product or system should be working will be the extent to which we understand a problem (what should not be). A lot of confusion about defining a problem, not to mention solving it, can be the result of not understanding what is normal to begin with. A slight vibration at high speed with a 20-year-old Toyota Corolla might be normal; the same vibration at the same speed with a brand-new Lexus may be abnormal.

Think of this in the spiritual life, especially in terms of faith & morals. If there is no clear “Should” for what we believe, how we worship, or how we behave how would we even recognize a problem, much less solve one? Sound familiar in today’s spirit of relativism?

Throughout salvation history God slowly revealed the “Should” for his people; actually, more of a “Shall”. His law and the way Jesus fulfilled the law help us to become the exact opposite of what original sin & personal sin lead us into.

Consider some of the 10 Commandments…
• THOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN
We should not speak blasphemy or be irreverent in use of God’s name. We should be doing the opposite, should we not? Speak reverently about God and holy things.

• THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
This forbids unjust killing; suicide; abortion; sterilization; endangering life and limb of self or others. Now think of the opposite and the teachings of Jesus. We should will the good of others to protect and promote the life of our neighbors.

• THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
We should not commit impure actions alone or with others. What’s the opposite? A pure way of looking at others and a respect for the spousal meaning of the body.

In Scripture, there seems to be a contradiction about revenge between the Old Testament and the New. The Old Testament mentions “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Lev 24:20 & Ex 21:24). The human tendency for revenge is escalation. If you hit me, I’ll hit you back twice as hard. Thus, the Old Testament “should” tempered-down the thirst for escalating vengeance and prepared the people for a new “should”…the exact opposite. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you and bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Lk 6:27-28).

Lastly, I tend to be both baffled & horrified at the amount of innocent suffering Jesus underwent to save us from our sins, and maybe you are too. It’s a mystery. But again, I think of opposites to help.

How does suffering relate to sin?
What’s the exact opposite of innocent suffering?
Guilty pleasure!

And how much guilty pleasure is involved for all of mankind’s sins (past, present & future) and how much innocent suffering would be needed to negate it if this is God’s chosen way of redemption. It would be a baffling & horrifying amount indeed.

*Featured Yin-Yang image off Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earth_Yin-Yang.jpg#file