Extraordinary

Atlantic Ocean, Clouds and Boat

Does an extraordinary claim require extraordinary evidence? If one thinks of ordinary as natural, something one can see, touch or measure, and one thinks of extra as super, then it might make sense to transform extraordinary into supernatural just to help us see what’s at stake. From that new perspective, a supernatural claim would seem to require supernatural evidence.

True, some proudly deny the supernatural entirely. They might as well deny the extraordinary itself, but such a denial would itself be an extraordinary claim requiring extraordinary or supernatural evidence to justify it.

Pause for a moment.

Without the supernatural there would be no words to describe the ordinary if the ordinary could exist at all. That we take words for granted does not mean they are ordinary or can be completely reduced to something natural. We are just used to the extraordinary, the supernatural, pervading our lives in spite of our denials.

Furthermore, we use these words that are extraordinary to form presuppositions, or believed assumptions that cannot be reduced to the ordinary, in order to rationalize those very denials.

Those presuppositions are part of our spiritual environment. Can we change our minds? From this environment do we produce wholesome fruit worth offering to our loved ones? Can we repent if that fruit is rotten? Can we be forgiven?

We sink into the waters aware of those presuppositions, those mundane, questionable, unwholesome, but extraordinary claims. As we are brought back up, having repented, having changed our minds, the Lord renews in us a right spirit and creates in us a clean heart.

Now that’s extraordinary.

My thoughts expressed here were motivated from reading Michael Wilson’s post Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence? which led me to Frank Turek’s podcast. When Eugenia offered the word “extraordinary” for this week’s prompt I figured the coincidence was significant.

לב טהור ברא לי אלהים ורוח נכון חדשׁ בקרבי

Psalm 51:10 Masoretic Text with various translations
All of the Above and Some Birds
Eugenia’s Prompt Image

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

26 thoughts on “Extraordinary”

  2. Love this: “We sink into the waters aware of those presuppositions, those mundane, questionable, unwholesome, but extraordinary claims. As we are brought back up, having repented, having changed our minds, the Lord renews in us a right spirit and creates in us a clean heart.”

    Appreciate your insight on this.

    Blessings.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Fascinating take on the prompt, Frank! Personally, I would rather be ordinary and strive to be better than to be extraordinary and have to keep up with an unnatural pace. Superbly penned! Bravo!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. A very brilliant article Frank, I have always been fascinated with the difference, if there is at all, between the ordinary and extraordinary – of how I would put my thoughts about it into words.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Your photo draws me in. I’m not brilliant enough to enter into the discussion–all I can say is that the supernatural realm is real, and I suspect that’s where God’s angels are “employed”, awaiting His orders as to where to go and what to do for His people and their needs.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I feel better now–your post was so over my head 🙂 Sometimes I’m prompted to ponder “what’s going on in that realm right now?” I can’t wait to get home to Heaven! It will be like Disneyland for believers, I think–we’ll walk around that first day in wide-eyed wonder! 🙂 Blessings to you, dear Brother–it will be fun to meet you in person there 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  6. I’m of the belief that our very existence is proof of the supernatural. Life, the universe, it’s all a miracle that has been watered down by a secular viewpoint. Great post, Frank. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I take the view, Frank, that I have no reason not to believe in the supernatural. Many people have had experiences that cannot be explained in terms of the ordinary and I have not reason to disbelieve every one of them. It doesn’t make sense that they are all wrong, but I am right.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: Eugi’s Weekly Prompt – Extraordinary – Roundup – Eugi's Causerie

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