Subtract the Abstract

A few weekends ago, my brother and I trekked through treacherous snowy roads up to Steamboat Springs for a brief getaway. We met up with our folks as well as some extended family and were treated to a complimentary ski-in condo for the weekend. The skiing I experienced while there was nonpareil.

One of my favorite things to observe on ski slopes is the occasional little kid that is decked out in ski gear and can be seen cruising down the mountain or waddling around in the lodge. I'm referring to the tiny, tiny ones that probably just learned to walk last year. They are somewhat rare, but when they do appear, I always want to ooh and ahh over them.

Late in the afternoon during our ski day at Steamboat, our crew had to go back to the main lodge so my Dad could check on something. While my brother, cousin, and I hung out by the gondola waiting for Pop's return, I spotted a little toddler skier teetering after his father. After crooning about how cute he was to my brother (which I'm sure he appreciated), I then began to think about things on a deeper level.

Nobody can argue that learning to ski as an adult is difficult. Come to think of it, learning anything new as an adult is quite challenging when compared to learning that same thing as a child. Science can provide many research-backed answers as to why the adult brain resists taking on new skills. While those scientific studies are fascinating and true, I believe there is another reason why adults lose the ability to quickly soak in new things: abstract thinking.

Abstract thinking is foreign to children. This is why the adults in their life are so formative in their development. Children constantly appeal to the adults in their lives to make sense of their world. Though they may tirelessly ask the qustion "Why?", they easily absorb the answers to their questions without picking apart the answer in their brain. So-and-so said such-and-such and that is that. Thus makes up the beauty that is the childlike brain.

As my eyes followed the little guy at the lodge trailing behind his father, obviously a bit hindered by ski boots (who's not?) and a bulky coat, I contemplated how he must have a huge trust in his dad. Perhaps he had some fear of going down the slopes, but being the child that he was, he had not the capacity to over-analyze the situation. If Dad says I'm going down the slopes, I guess I'm going down the slopes. I could almost hear his thought process, not hard to imagine since I can remember having that childlike mode once too.

Though abstract reasoning is a gift and presents a more multi-colored pallette to life, it can often be a hindrance. An adult learning to ski will often kill the experience with hyper-awareness and vigilance. What if...? I don't think I can... This is dangerous... I can well hear those thoughts too. I experience them daily in one way or the other.

As I chewed on these ideas, I mentioned them to my brother. We discussed how abstract thought can ironically hinder progress. Do you ever discuss something that may not be revolutionary to the world in general but it is to you? This conversation was just such a brainstorm.

I went back to my own thoughts at that point and pondered how Jesus encouraged people to receive him as little children would (Luke 18:17). Why does He say this? Because He understands that higher-level thinking often prevents folks from coming to Him. He thus promotes childlike thinking and childlike faith. He asks people to trust Him as the little skier trusted his dad. Once again, not a new concept, but worth repeating for sure.

What sane adult would go to the top of a steep hill covered in snow, strap two long boards onto his feet, and point them downhill? What sane adult would surrender self, believe that there is a loving Creator who will forgive his sins, and then give his life to this unseen God in order to have a relationship with Him? Answer: the sane adult who takes on childlike faith.

I am not proposing that abstract thought is evil or should be thrown out. God has surely granted man the ability to think wonderfully deep and rich thoughts. God himself thinks higher than we can even imagine (Isaiah 55:9). Instead, I am suggesting that it is a powerful thing to learn to temper reasoning with childlike faith and trust.

Those who are in the death-grip of higher thinking will never experience some of life's greatest joys. Their reasoning abilities will gladly stifle it all. This is sad on an earthly level. This is tragic on a spiritual level. I hope that all will take on childlike faith and turn to Christ. I hope that all will have the courage to subtract the abstract.