“Three in One”

y Dad's favorite all purpose remedy for getting rusted bolts unscrewed was "3-in-1" oil. I still have one of the tiny cans and use the oil occasionally. It was advertised as "Three oils in one," which meant that it was useful for so many household chores. One of my Dad's church members was accused of using it to keep his curly hair mane gable. Mother was never convinced that it was OK to use "3-in1" in her beloved Singer sewing machine, and would not let us guys use her special Singer can of oil at all. In today's world all of these products have been supplanted by the popular synthetic spray lubricant, "WD-40." Guys really do use this stuff on their "cow licks." It is also a general purpose lubricant advertised for: "Stopping squeaks, protecting metal parts, and freeing sticky mechanisms." It is a miracle fix for locks and keys.

I have belabored this multi purpose idea in order to help us get a hold on the unexplainable biblical concept of the Trinity. God is presented as three persons, yet one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus just tells us that this is the way it is without any explanation. Other New Testament passages attempt an explanation, but we are ultimately left scratching our heads for a logical, provable answer. For me, all of these little unanswerable quirks of Christian Theology are just peculiar enough to make it seem more real, just as life in general offers more questions than answers.

In no less an important occasion that The Great Commission, Jesus commands us to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28: 19, NRSV).. Saint Paul's benediction to the Corinthian Church restates Trinitarian language: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." (II Cor. 13:13).

On the experiential level we can come closer to grasping the doctrine of the Trinity. In our quietness we all have a hunch that God is real. We kind of feel the Spirit in our bones. We read the stories of Jesus and we have good vibes. It all seems as real to us as does anything else. Perhaps this is what we call believing. Then, once we have given him a chance, and we grow in his love, we know that the Triune God is a real as rocks and rain, and sunrises and tears.