The Obvious


A story was once told about Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr. Watson:

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine they lay down in their tent for the night and went to sleep.

Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend awake. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.” Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.” “What does that tell you?” Holmes questioned. Watson pondered for a minute. “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.

Astrologically, I observe Saturn is in Leo. Logically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.” “Is that all?” Holmes asked. “Yes,” Watson replied. “Why, am I missing something?”

Holmes was quiet for a moment, then spoke: “Watson, you nut head. Someone has stolen the tent!”

The point of this story is, I believe, well made. As we make our journey of life, we collect all kinds of information and we live and operate within many “ologies.” Do these “ologies” help us to see reality or do we get so caught up in them that we find ourselves missing the obvious?

I pray this day: “Dear God, you are the God of the obvious. Help me to take the plank of ‘ologies’ out of my eye, before I complain about the speck in my brother’s or sister’s eye. Give me the eyes and ears of faith to see and hear the obvious in the world around me. I ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

— Fr. Mike