2 + 2 = 5

Here's a simple principle for ministry which one might easily overlook. I often say to myself:  2 + 2 = 4.  Which means that, ordinarily, things add up. But sometimes they don't.  Then you have 2 + 2 = 5. Then I ask myself, what's this with the extra 1? Where is it? What is it? If one fails to ask the question, then one may miss something big. Someone acts out of character: 2 + 2 = 5. Someone does something that wasn't planned. 2 + 2 = 5. And so on. What then is the extra 1? Sometimes there may be a plain and simple answer. Sometimes there may be none. Sometimes the question may be of crucial importance to ministry.