In the last blog I touched briefly on the “post-modern, philosophy-driven woman (with the really nice purse)” that showed up at the Park that day. (Pages 90-91 of The Bridge from OneDayBow) The illustration shows that she is very pretty, but the words she spoke is what proves her post-modern position.

“Post-modern” is a strange term, I think. If “modern” relates to the present or recent times, as opposed to the past; how can you put a “post” in front of it and create something that doesn’t exist?

Post-modernism neither means what it sounds to mean, nor has a succinct definition. While the phrase is fairly common these days, and is thrown around freely in some philosophical circles, you will struggle to get a solid picture of what it actually is. What it seems to present is that the modern is no longer modern enough and needs to be overruled in areas of thinking, education, religion, and the like. Diversity and skepticism, it may be no surprise, seem to be engines driving the philosophy. With this cultural concept comes another buzzword: relativism. Yep, there it raises its ugly head again, boldly declaring that there is no absolute truth. Therefore, it follows, everyone gets to create their own truth and demand that it be embraced by the masses. (Total nonsense, I know, but tell that to college professors…)

So I think we understand a little better where the pretty woman is coming from – although we aren’t absolutely certain where she came from. She begins her words to Tim (and the crowd) by appearing to be very tolerant:

“I’m glad you found the Bridge, Tim. It seems to work for you.

But don’t try to convince me there’s just one way that’s true.

The monument is my way, and I believe it’s fact.

Besides, look at these bobbles I have already packed.”

She then goes on to say,

…“I have enough to win all that I’ve desired.

Because to do your best will be all that is required.

Where I lay my nooma down is where my hope begins.

And when we pass the city’s end, everybody wins!”

Not only are the words an overt example of relativism, they even conflict with the legend of the monument – which she says she believes in! So, everybody that day should have disregarded her, right? Quite the contrary, they ate it up. But why? Because it appealed to that part of human nature that wants to believe that everyone will be okay in the end – or at least they, individually, will be.

But was her opposition the end of Tim’s opportunity? No way! Well, honestly, Tim did stall for about a minute, but then remembered why he was there: to proclaim the Truth! So what did Tim do? He prayed – the best first step – and then stepped up his game. He wasn’t going to be silenced; he was going to get real about the human condition, and their concerns that were hidden under a thin layer of false bravado. “Death” remained the elephant of fear in the crowd, and Tim called it for what it was.

I have no doubt that Tim hit on a very sensitive subject for all of them, but with that reality check he also presented the hope that could be found by them all:

“The King knows what’s inside us – that’s why He sent His Son

To pay the price to save us, in spite of all we’ve done!”

And guess what? Someone was brave enough, or maybe fearful enough to respond. In spite of post-modern philosophy wrapped in a pretty package, the Truth still penetrates!