I have memories of my childhood walking home from Catholic school, always needing to stay alert for the Protestant bullies who would wait to attack us on our way home in the afternoons. Being the oldest in the family, I was the apparent target. As a good kid, I didn’t understand the behavior directed at me. Was it because I looked odd in my school uniform, or was it due to being a Catholic kid in the minority facing racist behavior? I didn’t know why they wanted to be so cruel to me!

Before I conclude this “cosmological” problem, I want to express my belief that the historical aspect will present challenges for several reasons. Generally, we do not have access to many ancient manuscripts. The primary issue is that institutions like the Catholic Church hold the materials necessary to understand the history of the Western world specifically.

When I read this passage a decade ago, it became clear that I had a long way to go before I truly understood. And why was “it” hidden in Christ? That is for later. My thesis statement is that for any of us to grasp our existence and what it truly means to be human, we must align ourselves with Christ and start there to get it right, or we risk being just another “lost” barbarian making tracks on planet Earth, ultimately dying without ever comprehending it at all.

Our knowledge comes from various sources—books that spark our imagination, powerful sermons that inspire us, class lectures that expand our horizons, and mainstream news programs that inform us. However, it's crucial to recognize that much of what we hear aligns with the agendas of those in power, shaping our perception of reality.