Uncommon Sense

I remember a friend once saying to me, “the only thing common about common-sense, is that its not very common at all!”.

We talk about common-sense, but what does it actually mean? The dictionary definition of common-sense is ‘sound judgment derived from experience”, and after reading that definition I think I'm inclined to agree with my friend! Even a quick glance at the world shows that our experiences don't necessarily make us wiser.

‘Common-sense' evokes images of down to earth, reasonable and practical people, but what of the unreasonable, impractical people, the ones accused of lacking common sense but who find uncommon yet transformative ways of doing things?

A little like another friend of mine, who within his field of bio-science research is regarded as a genius, but whom no one would ever regard as being a practical person. Or like Jesus, who risked telling us to see things a different way, and so transforms the lives of his followers by often seemingly counterproductive means.

‘love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. ‘Take no thought for your life. Do not be anxious about tomorrow.' Common Sense would suggest that that most of what Jesus says here is ridiculous. We can even hear our own common sense telling us: ‘Don't be a fool. You should be worried about tomorrow. Everyone should be!'

That is why I believe we need something more than common-sense to guide us into this new moment. We need to take risks. Not ones that put ourselves or others in danger, or which increase anxiety; but risks of faith. For by definition, faith is risk. When Jesus says ‘Do not be anxious about tomorrow,' it is not an irresponsible, fatalistic ‘whatever will be will be,' it is a challenge of trust. Trust that is rooted in a God of love who has already risked all for us. Let us go forward together risking to trust and to love, so that by faith we may find the elusive treasure of uncommon-sense.

Author Info: Andrew Moore

Chaplain Andrew is the Associate Chaplain here at the Campus. Before relocating to Arizona in 2014, Andrew lived and studied in the United Kingdom. Andrew was ordained in the Anglican church and has worked in a variety of parishes.