Psychologists can study American culture just by looking at bumper stickers, short and snappy statements that tell society’s story. Yesterday I saw a new one: “THERE ARE NO GREY AREAS.”

Many of us wish for that, life lived in the clear distinctions of black and white, but reality teaches us most of what we encounter is in grey zones. By grey I’m not implying there’s indecision or wishy-washy-ness, just too many possibilities.

Whenever we’re trying to make a decision and think, “Boy oh boy, I’m just not sure,” we’re in a grey zone. Thoughts like “Absolutely!” or “No way!” qualify as black or white, and we’re accepting of those. But why is it so difficult to live in the grey? Why did the bumper sticker truck driver not want any of it?

Maybe it’s because we become frustrated with unsolved problems and don’t like to be in doubt about anything. That feels “off,” like a mystery novel unresolved by the last page. Even Scripture has verses that are colored grey. When we hear that biblical scholars have debated for decades about specific passages, we know those particular verses have been written in shades of grey.

Surely, though, God has grey-tinged purposes for us. A period of wrestling with difficult dilemmas stretches our ability to problem-solve (i.e. making good use of our grey matter). Grey zone struggles are also fertile ground for opinion changes. As we puzzle through problems, a period of time in the grey zone might be just the thing to change an unwise choice to a wise one.

Grey areas also offer the benefit of wiggle room, a good place to debate opposing opinions. If a discussion isn’t limited to the extremes of black or white, there’s a good chance opposite views can land somewhere in the middle, in the grey zone.

As we try to cope with times of grey in our lives, once in a while we do need the relief of clear-cut black or white. Thankfully the Lord is willing to provide that, and despite a bit of biblical grey, most of what’s written on those pages is delineated in crystal clear black and white.

Front and center is his brightly colored love for all of us, which probably isn’t either black or white. It’s probably sparkling with every color in the rainbow. But one thing we know for sure: it isn’t grey.

As for the truck with the bumper sticker about no grey areas? It was grey.

“How blessed are the people who… walk in the light of [the Lord’s] countenance.” (Psalm 89:15)