In my previous church there was a married couple whose professions were in some ways considered opposites. They both worked in the field of medicine. But, one was in brain surgery, the other cardiology. It was common to those who knew the couple to find them debating from time to time over which of their two fields were more important in their contributions to medical science. One would argue that the brain mattered most, and the other would counter that the heart was more important.
Medical science aside, the debate over head vs. heart is one that continues on in many circles of conversation, and indeed within ourselves. Given just about any situation we are confronted with this debate, do I trust my head, which then metaphorically refers to the center of our being which gleans from evidence or personal experience; or do I trust my heart, which relies on intuition and emotion? The head is understood as the place which believes that truth is derived from things that can be proven, measured, and evaluated. The heart is understood as the place which believes that truth is derived from feelings, gut-instinct. The head is at work seeking to understand, endeavoring to be proven right or wrong. The heart is at work falling in love, reaching out with compassion, going deep into conversation. The head is the seat of wisdom. The heart is the seat of love.
Psychologists Jung, along with Myers-Briggs found great success with their theory on the universal typology of personalities. In their work the well known Myers-Briggs test has been used in a variety of ways to highlight the differences and encourage understanding between 16 primary personality types. Built into their conclusions is an acceptance of a fundamental difference between people who might be called “head” people verses “heart” people. The “head” people tend to be more grounded, stoic, and realistic. The “heart” people tend to be more flighty, emotional, and imaginative. However, while modern Psychology may indeed recognize that there are “head” people and “heart” people, there is also widespread acceptance that we all make choices somewhere within a continuum from head to heart, and every circumstance is addressed a little bit differently than the last. None of us are 100% head, or heart. We are a blend of the two, and personality tests such as the Myers-Briggs simply point out our tendencies.
The point is, there are times when we need to trust our heads, and there are times when we need to trust our hearts. And, every situation is potentially a battle ground. Internally, a storm rages as we struggle with decisions between the head and the heart. And, sometimes, the storm rages outside us, in the world around us. It is in the external arena that we start to see individual leanings of heart or head arise as we make use of politics and various subtleties of personal influence to try to win others to trust in our viewpoints. Both the internal and the external struggles between the head vs. heart have the potential for destructive results if we are not careful and forgiving of both our self and others.
Today’s bible readings seem to be lifting up the heart over the head as a manor of virtue and faith. In the gospel, Peter responds with his heart to Jesus’ call to get out and walk on water. Walking on water is, without a doubt, a response of the heart overruling the head. The head sees the water, not a solid surface upon which one can walk. The head sees the boat as the only source of salvation. But, the heart wonders if it’s possible and realizes he’ll never know if he doesn’t try. Peter’s heart wins the internal struggle and for a moment he is walking on water.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans we hear him teach us that one must learn to believe with their hearts to be saved. Paul makes a statement such as this simply out of an assumption that we already recognize that there is a kind of faith that is not of the heart—namely faith of the head.
The simple way to preach or teach these texts is merely to proclaim that God requires faith of the heart over faith of the head. The trouble is that if we are really honest with God, the scripture and ourselves, then we must confess that nothing in life is ever truly that simple. In fact, while this text today lifts up the necessity for the faith of the heart over that of the head, this text also speaks just the opposite. For instance, while Paul declares that we are to believe in the heart to be save, he says further in the verse that follow a list of "head" things that are necessary to bring us to that belief. He says, "How can a person believe if they do not hear, and how can a person hear if someone doesn't proclaim..." Furthermore, if we do not recognize the significance of both head and heart in Paul's teaching, then he contradicts himself in chapter 12. Just as Paul declares today his message of belief in the heart from chapter 10 of his letter to the Romans, if we skip over to chapter 12, verse 2 he seems to be saying just the opposite. There he exhorts us to be “transformed by the renewing of the mind.” Likewise, Peter's walk on the water shows his heart for Jesus as he is willing to get out of the boat during a storm. But, how would Peter be able to call to him, or go to him on the water if he didn't first know him --head stuff-- and be able to recognize him. The others see a ghost on the water. Peter recognizes Jesus because he knows him.
The same is true of us. We may want to follow Christ (do what is right), and we may even be willing to try something radiucally new and different (walk on water), but if we don't go to church, if we aren't listening to scripture, if we aren't given the "head stuff" how can we even begin to know how to redognize Jesus in the midst of our storms.
So, what we find in scripture is an affirmation of our suspicion that both the head and the heart have their place within matters of faith. Therefore, the more allow this text is to be honest about this suspicion, and take in the whole message of the scripture. These texts clearly lift up scriptural examples of the efficacy of allowing our heart to ascend over our heads from time to time. But, it is irresponsible and contradictory to the fuller message of this text for me to preach that matters of faith can only be fulfilled by the heart.
There are times when we need to respond with our hearts. And, there are times when we need to respond with our heads. The challenge for us is to do what is right. This means finding balance between the both, and allowing our heads and our hearts to respond appropriately under the appropriate circumstances.
But, there will be times when we allow our hearts to squelch our heads. In times like these, common sense will give way to an emotional decision that will likely fail but hopefully offer to us a learning example that will lead to things being done differently next time. There will also be times when our head squelches our heart. In times like these, passion and enthusiasm for something will be overcome for reasons that are just unfounded. Emotional decisions made like these lead to destructiveness for everyone involved. And, they increase feelings of burnout and exhaustion depreciating the morale of an organization.
Striking a balance between the head and heart is actually the heart of the paradox of our Christian faith. This is the true heart of the matter. We are called to give our lives to Christ, and to give our lives to our neighbor simultaneously. We are called to be in the world, yet at the same time to remain not of the world. We are both saint and sinner simultaneously. And, we follow a Lord who is both human and divine. The heart of the matter is that we are always in a boat of trouble on a stormy sea. But, to our boat, and in the middle of this stormy paradox our Lord Jesus comes to calm our fears and be with us.
The blessing for us today from this message is found when we recognize that God is not one who demands that we get every decision right. He simply asks us to do our best, and as we do to entrust everything to God. If you’re a head person, recognize that there are times when you must let your heart win. Emotion, passion, idealism are good for the soul. If you’re a heart person, recognize that there are times when you must let your head win. Evidence, reality, common sense are also good for the soul.
Jesus may indeed have called Peter out of the boat to walk on the water with him. But, the truth that we need to hear from this text is the message that often gets overlooked. The storm that rages all around the boat of Peter and the others is not calmed by Peter getting out of the boat, but by Jesus climbing in. There is a storm of head vs. heart that rages inside us and all around us. But, the blessing for us all is found when we recognize that God--in our baptisms, in the Word, in the fellowship of believers, in the bread and the wine—climbs in and takes charge of the storm for us. He wants to be our God over all things, both the head things and the heart things.
God understands our struggle. Is it any wonder that Jesus says at one time, “Take up your own cross , then at another time, “Take my yoke upon you, the burden is light.” Jesus knows the weightiness with which each faithful decision we struggle through is made. Yet, simultaneously he offers his yoke to guide us through each of them.
God knows there are times when we will struggle and fail. He also knows there are times when we will struggle and succeed. God doesn’t ask perfection of us. He only asks us to trust him with the end result of all things. In the end perfection is God’s work—not ours.
Letting God be Lord of both our head and our heart, our full self---This is true freedom. This is what it means to live by faith. This is what it means to walk with Jesus.
When the storm rages within and without, take a moment to pray, to listen, and to watch. Because it is in the middle of the storm when our Lord comes to us and says, "Don't be afraid, I am with you even to the end."
Amen
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