The Thursday After

Today, fittingly a Thursday after, is the last day of our 180 challenge. The entire bible (sort of) in 180 days. How did you experience the journey?

I have found it an amazing journey. The blog posting linked in the 180 challenge for today is a great summary:

The Bible is a stunning piece of literature, even If you don’t believe anything written in it! It was penned by at least 40 traditional authors (inestimably more contributed in some capacity) and written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. In reality, we know many languages were used to pass down oral stories from the earliest times in the biblical narrative until they were later codified in the book and language we find them in today. But what is more impressive is the story the Bible is telling.

It tells the epic story of God and his creation, of blessing, temptation, sin, exile, and salvation. For those of us reading this today, we have the advantage of knowing the entire story was leading to Jesus. All in all, it is an epic book telling an even more epic story …

Bible Project: New Heaven & New Earth (blog)

I never really quite understood the Bible as this epic unified story, and now I can begin to see how the pieces fit together. The Bible Project links helped me a lot. Here’s a few key things that helped me:

• Its ancient literature which is intended to meditate on. Its not a recipe book or answer book. Now when I read something confusing, I know there is more meditation to do, and I look forward to it!
• I ask the question: what is the writer trying to tell me? That’s been enormously helpful. Like spending time with another person – when I am my best self I seek to understand that other person, where they are coming from and what their assumptions are. When I am at my best, I listen deeply, with curiosity and without judgement. Same here.
• The book overviews, the lessons on how to read the Bible have all massively helped … it gives me more context to help me appreciate what the author was trying to say.

The whole experience has actually given me a love for the Bible – I can actually enjoy reading it. I now see that the word epic is right. I never had that feeling. It was something I should read, but now I have glimpses where it is just the most amazing book.

Synagogues often work their way through the whole Torah in one year. When they are done (usually Sept/Oct), they throw a party called Simchat Torah, literally “The Joy of Torah”. I think that’s very cool. Maybe we should do that at the end of the next 180 challenge cycle?

• Here’s a YouTube video of people celebrating Simchat Torah on the streets of TelAviv. Notice the police holding up traffic to allow the people celebrating to walk along. Notice the big Torah Scrolls. Notice the music truck.
• Here’s a little description of Simchat Torah from Tim and Jon at the Bible Project on their podcast. Listen to the first 10 minutes or so.
• And the Wikipedia article

How did you do? Did you follow along? What was your experience?

I am going to take a short break. I’m starting to see that the Bible is designed as meditation literature, so of course I’m looking forward to digging in again.