ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 6, 2025
I was reflecting on some words offered in an email blast almost a year ago from Sojourners Magazine. It referenced Proverbs 18:15, “An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge,” but then the email blast went on to quote someone I did not think I knew. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist whose writing has received great acclaim, but upon further exploration, I was reminded that I had seen her TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story.” It is a fabulous TED Talk, but the quote from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in the email blast was, “Ignorance acknowledged is an opportunity. Ignorance denied is a closed door.” It is a simple, yet profound truth. I totally agree, except to say that “closed door” might be too soft of a description. Ignorance, and we all have our blind spots, can have us looking foolish. I’ve been there many times, though I try to acknowledge my ignorance before speaking. When I do, I am the only one who realizes just how ill-informed I was. But there are times when ignorance rises above simple foolishness and moves into the arena of danger. There are people who, for whatever reason, cling to their ignorance at the expense of other people’s happiness, safety, or even life expectancy. Ignorance, for some, feels better than facing the truth or accepting a new realization. A prayer I often offer goes something like, “Wherever I have something to learn, even if I’d rather not learn it, I look for your help in making space for something new or coming to accept that I was wrong all along.” I can’t say that my prayer is magic and that I immediately find acceptance and peace. However, I think it is a tool that God can use and does use for my betterment, and to help those who might be hurt by my ignorance.
Holy God of encouragement, wherever I have something to learn, even if I’d rather not learn it, I look for your help in making space for something new. If I am not quite ready for acceptance, I pray for the capacity to sit quietly with my ignorance until you help me move forward. Amen.
