I’ve neglected my blog lately. I’m reading Oedipus Rex for the class in ancient literature that I’m teaching on Fridays. I haven’t read Oedipus since I was in high school–lo, these many years ago. I had forgotten most of the details of the story. My first impression this time around is that the Greeks had a very depressing worldview. If your fate is fixed and you really have no choices, what’s the use? Maybe Iraq is fated to be a violent, tryannical state run by power-hungry Islamic terrorists. Maybe America is fated to be their victim. Maybe the victims of September 11 were meant to be murdered. Ah, but here’s one for the liberals, maybe George W. Bush was fated to be president. Then again, I don’t believe in fate or even in strict predestination. I believe God leaves room for choices in this world even though He knows all things and holds all things within His all-powerful will. How? I don’t know that. Isaiah 55:8-9 says,

8″For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD .
9″As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

That makes sense to me. We are not capable of understanding the thoughts of God.