The Buddhist and the Road Runner

Picture Wile E. Coyote, that determined fella in the desert, chasing the Road Runner with his wild gadgets-rocket skateboards, giant slingshots, the works. No matter how clever his plan, that speedy bird zips away, leaving Wile E. dangling over a cliff, realizing too late there’s nothing holding him up. The reality of gravity takes over from there. It’s a classic cartoon moment, but it’s also a quirky way to think about ideas that sound solid until you test them. 

“When we realize the everlasting truth of ‘everything changes’ and find our composure in it, we find ourselves in Nirvana.”

– Shunryu Suzuki, from Zen Mind, Beginners Mind

Take a core idea from Buddhism: Everything changes. It’s a beautiful thought – life’s always shifting, like seasons or moods, and finding peace in that flow can feel grounding. But here’s a puzzle: if everything changes, what about that idea itself? If it’s an everlasting truth, as some say, doesn’t that mean it’s supposed to stay fixed, never changing? That’s where it gets tricky, like Wile E. looking down and seeing no ground beneath him. If the claim ‘everything changes’ has to change too, it kind of trips over itself. 

This idea of spotting wobbly claims comes from Frank Turek and Norman Geisler in their book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist . They call it the Road Runner tactic: testing an idea by applying it to itself, like seeing if Wile E.‘s trap holds up when the bird darts away. It’s a clever tool, and it’s not just about Buddhism-it’s everywhere. Ever hear someone say, There’s no such thing as truth? If they think that’s true, their own words unravel, don’t they? It’s a fun way to dig into what we believe and why. 

So, let’s apply the claim to itself

1. ‘Everything changes’ is the everlasting truth, meaning this truth does not and will not change
2. The claim is a thing, it must be included in the everything of ‘everything changes’
3. Therefore, the claim itself must change and ultimately contradicts itself

As Christians, we’ve got a reason to point out these shaky spots – not to be mean, but to help others think clearly. If we believe truth sets people free, sharing it kindly and confidently is part of the deal. Imagine a friend who’s wrestling with big questions about life – maybe you’ve been there too. Gently asking, “Does that idea hold up?” can spark a real conversation, not a debate. It’s not about winning an argument; it’s about exploring ideas together. We’ve all got beliefs we lean on, and it’s worth checking if they’re standing on solid ground or just hanging in mid-air like Mr Coyote.

What’s an idea you hold tight to – does it pass the Road Runner test? Ever had a moment where a belief you had didn’t quite add up? How do you balance respecting others’ views with sharing what feels true to you? Drop your thoughts below – we’re all chasing answers out here in the desert.