An introduction: Who is in the box?

Howdy everyone, I'm new to this blog stuff so please bare with me. I know some of you who are reading this might be wondering why my blog is titled "The man in the glass box". I'm aware that this sounds strange; however, it is an idea I made up being inspired by both Plato's cave analogy in Republic and a passage in 1 Corinthians.

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."- 1 Corinthians 13:12

Imagine there is a woman who happens to come upon a large box made out of translucent glass. Though her vision is blurred and distorted from translucent film coating the glass, she sees the figure of a man inside the box. Straining her sight, the woman outside the box tries to see if she recognizes the strange figure inside the box. She is able to see certain characteristics about the man, noting his hair color, skin color, and his figure, however she can’t recognize who he is so she moves on. Another woman comes by the same box a year later except the translucent film has been peeled away. She is able to see the man inside the box clearly. The second woman is able to have relationship with the man, communicating to him through sign language. They both know each other, but are still rigidly separated by the glass between them. Everyday she revisits the man because she enjoys his company, but she is continually frustrated by the glass preventing them from speaking to each other. Desperate to finally talk to this man, the second woman aggressively attempts to break the glass but to no avail. She simply is not strong enough to cause any damage to this crystal clear force field. The man inside the box however, sees this and sympathizes with her. He strikes the glass, resulting a significant crack. Though he could easily break the glass entirely with one more strike, he chooses not to, seeing that it would be better for the woman to complete the destruction of the barrier. This woman once again tries to break the glass, and with every effort the crack becomes larger. she is filled with hope that soon the glass will be broken, and they will see each other face to face. 

Parallels:

Philosophically this parallels the cave analogy and the quest for enlightenment. The first woman is like those who can see shadows on the wall in the cave. She was able to see bits and pieces of the truth, but never could distinguish what it really is. The second woman is like one who gets a glimpse of the truth, recognizes it, and pursues it. (Ask me, if you have any questions).

In a spiritual sense, the man inside the box is God. The first woman represents someone who has spirituality besides true and perfect Christianity. It encompasses pagans and even modern day religions. The second woman is at first like the Jews in the old testament. The woman was able to have a relationship with God, however it was marked by separation. God himself had to break the barrier (justification), renewing our hope to see him face to face. The second woman than plays a role of a a Christian, or the Church as a whole, in completing the destruction of the glass (sanctification). 

I know that the analogy could perhaps be muddy in some areas, but if the basic idea is understood that is what matters. 

zip it up, and zip it out.