To Know...

In scripture we read "Be still and know that I am God". It strikes me that to know God isn't the same as to know a math equation. That's part of it, but not all. Henri Nouwen writes in response to Jesus knowing God "This knowing had little to do with understanding or comprehending. It was a knowledge of a heart shaped in the garden of eternal love". This knowing includes knowing with your mind, but goes beyond that. If a fact is known only in your mind it can be stored away for later use. That's not what God is after. To know God is not to necessarily to understand Him. We can and should seek to understand Him. But we also must realize that God cannot be calculated. What we know of Him we learn through experiences with His character, His people, His word, and His actions.