Years ago Tom Long wrote an article in the Christian Century magazine about an experience a young father had with his son. It seems the little boy was a huge fan of both Captain Kangaroo and Mister Rogers. The boy faithfully watched both of their television shows, never missing a one. One day it was announced that Mister Rogers was going to appear on the Captain Kangaroo show. Imagine that – both of his heroes on the same show! The little boy could hardly wait. Every morning he asked his parents if this was the day. Were Captain Kangaroo and Mister Rogers going to be together today? Finally the momentous day arrived. The little boy and his parents settled in to watch the show. But after watching for only a few minutes, the little boy abruptly got up and walked away from the TV and out of the room. His father was concerned and followed him. He asked the little boy, “Is anything wrong?” And his son replied, “It’s too good, Daddy. It’s just too good.”
Ever felt like that? A baby is born … it’s just too good. A troubled teenager finds her way again … it’s just too good. A doubt or loss or grief dissolves into peace and new hope … it’s just too good. For many of us there have been times when life offered an experience more wondrous or unexpected or miraculous than we knew what to do with. We can scarcely credit its reality.
Maybe that phenomenon explains some of the growing reluctance modern Americans have to embracing religious faith. According to numerous studies, Americans are increasingly unlikely to hold any religious affiliation. The time people used to spend in places of worship is frequently spent now at sporting events, entertainment venues or on electronic social media. Surely the claims for fulfillment, satisfaction and meaning which those modern alternatives offer are nothing like those promised by centers of worship. Yet growing numbers of people are content with the less dramatic benefits they offer. Maybe for modern folks the promises of faith seem too good, just too good.
Actually, if we modern people argue that the stories that undergird our faith seem too good to be true, we aren’t alone in that perception. Time and again we read in scripture stories that astonishing experiences which some people found utterly transformative to their lives were dismissed by others as idle tales, foolish yarns or utter nonsense – which is one way of acknowledging that there are many aspects to faith that we cannot fully explain or understand. And yet for those whose faith matters, their conviction in its significance is as certain as the gravity that holds us to earth or the sunrise tomorrow morning.
While we cannot hope to tie up every question about faith’s promises and fulfillments with neat theological ribbons, that needn’t mean it’s all too good to be true. Ask anyone who has known courage restored, vision cleared, sorrow assuaged, hope regained or faith fulfilled. Were those marvelous experiences real? Oh yes, and too good to miss – just too good!
