I once read a science fiction story which had as a philosophical base the idea that the essence of liberty is the right of refusal. It was expressed as Freedom =I Won’t (FIW). This freedom expressed in the negative is the ability to avoid or resist external coercive force. In the story a great power was defeated by a much smaller number using the rule, FIW. The great power could destroy but could not subjugate the small but free indigenous population. The locals faced weapons and orders with simple laughter and went about their business with no regard for the nonplussed forces sent to subdue them. The mighty invader, used to being taken seriously, could not formulate an answer to a population that simply refused to respond.
FIW, works as an answer to external tyrants but what about the internal type? It is a given that people act and their actions have motivations. No one is free to do nothing at all. Every action answers some motive. The motive could be elemental as hunger or troublesome as pride but, no one starts free of self.
Freedom from the internal tyrant is the first and only kind of freedom worth having. Consider the life of someone dragged about by every attachment, controlled by every lust, trapped by pride. With no external master he is still very much in servitude to the vilest, most capricious master possible, his own self. The external result may be less or more acceptable, addictions, imprisonments, wealth, intellectual attainments; still all are only window dressing for a life led without restraint. It is a life filled with frustration caused by inability to say no to the internal tyrant.
This terrible condition is the commonest lot of men and its description is a mirror we daily peer into. We are intimately familiar with the face of slavery since it is our own visage. Attempts to deform, deface, and erase the terror of this image drives many actions and is the cause of much suffering. What is the alternative? What is the picture of one who can bring FIW into the darkest recesses of his own psyche? Who can deny himself?
It would be easier to sit in a bucket and lift oneself over the moon by the handle than to pull oneself, by dint of will, out of oneself. What is required is an outside agency. Someone Else, someone who is free in himself and of himself, someone who can lead the way, is necessary to begin the process.
Tyrants never leave of their own accord. Usually they must be killed. This remains true for the internal tyrant. It is also true that a vacuum of power never lasts long. The tyrant’s place must be filled. New motives must replace old ones. The Someone Else must attain the throne because only one who is free and has freedom can give it to another. A new freedom emerges, the freedom of fealty. Unconditional freedom is found in unconditional commitment.
Once the internal tyrant is overthrown and the only revolution that ever counts complete, one is free to say ‘I won’t’ to any remnants of the old tyrant. It can be an arduous process learning to reject the old way and embrace the new freedom. We can be certain of ultimate success because the dead have no power over the living. The Free One who alone can grant us precious freedom has promised to never forsake those who belong to him.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Not too heavenly minded
Have you ever heard the saying, ‘too heavenly minded to be any earthly good’? I am ashamed to say that I have used this saying to excuse carnality and compromise. But let’s examine this common misnomer. Is it possible to be too heavenly minded? What does it mean to be heavenly minded? If it means an attempt to escape this world’s trouble by spiritual pretense then we can fail to do good in this world. But, if by heavenly minded we mean to have the mind of Christ then we must find out what Christ thinks about.
It will be profitable to start with establishing the character of the one we are attempting to emulate. If we have heaven’s mind we should be full of hope and planning how to share that hope with others.
Jer 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
His mind is on our best interest. We can follow Him with confidence. We can also be sure that he is worthy of following. In wisdom and knowledge he is supreme and who would learn from him will benefit.
Rom 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and] knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"
We can also be sure that in emulating him we are not committing ourselves to way that is too hard. Although the way of the cross is too hard for us, we only walk it by his power and in this way not only can we walk in the way but also find rest for our souls.
Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
The way we are following is the way of compassion. Jesus was mourning the murder of his cousin John the Baptist, but he considered the needs of the crowd ahead of his own need to mourn. Can we follow this example? Not without his power within us. By the Holy Spirit we can see and act as Jesus did, putting the needs of others before our own.
Matt 14:13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Jesus can enter our lives in many disguises; we must pray for open eyes to see him and open hands to act at every chance.
Matt 25:37-40 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The way offers no resistance to false accusations. This is absolutely opposite the world and is only possible by the empowering spirit in our lives.
Matt 27:12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Following Jesus’ example means making disciples. I stress disciples and not just converts. Discipleship is a process of teaching that does not always lead to conversion. Even Jesus had a disciple that failed to convert to belief. Ours is to patiently teach, it remains to God to convert sinners.
Matt28:18-20 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Those we are called to teach are not the easy to work with, stable, healthy, morally upright good citizens. No, we are to patiently teach the depraved, unstable, unclean, morally bankrupt sinners. The best part of this is that these groups are self-identifying. The good people can hardly wait to tell you how good they are. The sick must be sought out in the darkest places.
Mk 2:17 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
We are called to feed, clothe, nurse, counsel, teach, and comfort the poor and the lost. Again, we are not called to do this in our own strength, by our own means but in his strength with his means. We act, but only as a conduit. We are part of the process like a garden hose is part of growing the flowers.
Mk 6:37 37But he answered, "You give them something to eat."…
In the Way we are called to walk in dollars have no value, only souls have value. Blessed relief then to know that nothing in the world is sacrifice enough nor can any power of this world separate our souls from him. There is only one thing to do, follow, follow the cross that saves the world with a cross that kills pride and self-reliance.
Mk 8:34-37 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Would you wash the feet of the saints? Minister grace without self-regard. There is no abasement so low but he has been there before us. There is no task so menial that it lacks the grace of his approbation when it is done to bless the ones he died for.
Mk 9:35-35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Emulating him means doing the good that is in our hands and not troubling ourselves about what-ifs. The Good Samaritan could have said, “What if this man is a robber faking injury to trap the unwary? What if I find a fellow Samaritan instead if this Jew to assist? Should I wait to make sure I have the most needy person? What if this fellow is ungrateful? Is my service wasted?” No “prudent consideration” should stop us from doing the good we can do in the moment we can do it.
Lk 10:36-37 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The way we tread means rejoicing without consideration for the past. God puts our sin away from us as far as the east is from the west and we follow by accepting as brothers and sisters every person who repents.
Lk 15:10 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
All of these things we do as one famished for more. No service is sufficient, no abasement complete, no mercy shown satisfies completely. The crosses we carry are dear to us as water in the desert. They can never be enough because they can never match his cross. But as we embrace them, they bring us closer to his heart.
Jn 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
All this is done only to and for God alone. Even accolades from the world are unworthy of notice and the world’s disdain is a badge of honor.
Jn 5:41 "I do not accept praise from men”
To love. This is a command to action not a request for warm feelings. We don’t even have to have the warm feelings; we do have to perform the foot washing, wound binding, feeding, clothing, mourning with, rejoicing with actions of love.
Jn 15:17 17This is my command: Love each other.
As our love is demonstrated by his power and in the Spirit, the world will see a strange sight. Where they take care of number one, we will care for everyone; where they blow their own horn, we will sound the praise of our God; Their untouchables we will touch and there will be no doubt that Jesus is Lord.
Jn 17:20-21 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Now we are all named Simon, does the Lord know that we love him? If we want him to know let us practice the religion that God accepts; caring for widows and orphans from a heart full of gratitude for crosses, His and ours.
Jn 21:16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
All this is the beginning of what it means to be heavenly minded. Is there any way that we could fail to make the world a better place if our minds were thus arrayed? Let us then strive to be more heavenly minded and great earthly good.
It will be profitable to start with establishing the character of the one we are attempting to emulate. If we have heaven’s mind we should be full of hope and planning how to share that hope with others.
Jer 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
His mind is on our best interest. We can follow Him with confidence. We can also be sure that he is worthy of following. In wisdom and knowledge he is supreme and who would learn from him will benefit.
Rom 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and] knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"
We can also be sure that in emulating him we are not committing ourselves to way that is too hard. Although the way of the cross is too hard for us, we only walk it by his power and in this way not only can we walk in the way but also find rest for our souls.
Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
The way we are following is the way of compassion. Jesus was mourning the murder of his cousin John the Baptist, but he considered the needs of the crowd ahead of his own need to mourn. Can we follow this example? Not without his power within us. By the Holy Spirit we can see and act as Jesus did, putting the needs of others before our own.
Matt 14:13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Jesus can enter our lives in many disguises; we must pray for open eyes to see him and open hands to act at every chance.
Matt 25:37-40 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The way offers no resistance to false accusations. This is absolutely opposite the world and is only possible by the empowering spirit in our lives.
Matt 27:12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Following Jesus’ example means making disciples. I stress disciples and not just converts. Discipleship is a process of teaching that does not always lead to conversion. Even Jesus had a disciple that failed to convert to belief. Ours is to patiently teach, it remains to God to convert sinners.
Matt28:18-20 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Those we are called to teach are not the easy to work with, stable, healthy, morally upright good citizens. No, we are to patiently teach the depraved, unstable, unclean, morally bankrupt sinners. The best part of this is that these groups are self-identifying. The good people can hardly wait to tell you how good they are. The sick must be sought out in the darkest places.
Mk 2:17 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
We are called to feed, clothe, nurse, counsel, teach, and comfort the poor and the lost. Again, we are not called to do this in our own strength, by our own means but in his strength with his means. We act, but only as a conduit. We are part of the process like a garden hose is part of growing the flowers.
Mk 6:37 37But he answered, "You give them something to eat."…
In the Way we are called to walk in dollars have no value, only souls have value. Blessed relief then to know that nothing in the world is sacrifice enough nor can any power of this world separate our souls from him. There is only one thing to do, follow, follow the cross that saves the world with a cross that kills pride and self-reliance.
Mk 8:34-37 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Would you wash the feet of the saints? Minister grace without self-regard. There is no abasement so low but he has been there before us. There is no task so menial that it lacks the grace of his approbation when it is done to bless the ones he died for.
Mk 9:35-35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Emulating him means doing the good that is in our hands and not troubling ourselves about what-ifs. The Good Samaritan could have said, “What if this man is a robber faking injury to trap the unwary? What if I find a fellow Samaritan instead if this Jew to assist? Should I wait to make sure I have the most needy person? What if this fellow is ungrateful? Is my service wasted?” No “prudent consideration” should stop us from doing the good we can do in the moment we can do it.
Lk 10:36-37 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The way we tread means rejoicing without consideration for the past. God puts our sin away from us as far as the east is from the west and we follow by accepting as brothers and sisters every person who repents.
Lk 15:10 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
All of these things we do as one famished for more. No service is sufficient, no abasement complete, no mercy shown satisfies completely. The crosses we carry are dear to us as water in the desert. They can never be enough because they can never match his cross. But as we embrace them, they bring us closer to his heart.
Jn 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
All this is done only to and for God alone. Even accolades from the world are unworthy of notice and the world’s disdain is a badge of honor.
Jn 5:41 "I do not accept praise from men”
To love. This is a command to action not a request for warm feelings. We don’t even have to have the warm feelings; we do have to perform the foot washing, wound binding, feeding, clothing, mourning with, rejoicing with actions of love.
Jn 15:17 17This is my command: Love each other.
As our love is demonstrated by his power and in the Spirit, the world will see a strange sight. Where they take care of number one, we will care for everyone; where they blow their own horn, we will sound the praise of our God; Their untouchables we will touch and there will be no doubt that Jesus is Lord.
Jn 17:20-21 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Now we are all named Simon, does the Lord know that we love him? If we want him to know let us practice the religion that God accepts; caring for widows and orphans from a heart full of gratitude for crosses, His and ours.
Jn 21:16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
All this is the beginning of what it means to be heavenly minded. Is there any way that we could fail to make the world a better place if our minds were thus arrayed? Let us then strive to be more heavenly minded and great earthly good.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thoughts on a Curious Juxtaposition of the Poetic Song of Solomon and the Plain Talk of 1 Corinthians
Both the Song of Solomon (SoS) and Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor.) speak about marriage relationships but in very different ways. To some degree the differences are merely the difference in culture and training between Solomon and Paul. Solomon, blessed, wealthy, and above all wise, chose the language of wisdom from his time and place. Similarly, Paul educated to the Nth degree, steeped in both the Torah and Socrates, reflects a combination of the exacting styles of both the Pharisee and the philosopher. In addition to stylistic differences 1 Cor. discusses many subjects while SoS is almost entirely about a single intimate relationship. Finally, 1 Cor. teaches about a believer’s response to the world where SoS is metaphorically about the believer’s response to Christ. Beyond these differences, both books contain similarities in their wisdom and knowledge about how men and women interact inside a marriage.
The books contain parallel thoughts such as;
SoS 6:3 I am my lover’s and he is mine…
1 Cor 7:3-4 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
The quote from SoS is aesthetically pleasing. So much so that it is easy to miss the depth of connotation within it. The 1 Cor. quote spells out the case without flourish and leaves a clear imprint on the mind but has less impact on the soul than the lyrical SoS. The truth that birthed both ideas (or, the one idea expressed two ways) is made clear through the comparison. Simply put, we cannot live for ourselves and fulfill all God’s plans for us. This is true in many areas of living but deserves special consideration in respect to marriage and relationships. In marriage, two imperfect souls are bound together in a way that compounds/exacerbates the effects of both selfishness and selflessness. As the foundational unit of society a married couple’s behavior to each other, good and bad, reverberates throughout many lives and sets the tone and timbre of the society around them. Marriage God’s way blesses society, the family, and the individuals in the marriage.
The books contain parallel thoughts such as;
SoS 6:3 I am my lover’s and he is mine…
1 Cor 7:3-4 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
The quote from SoS is aesthetically pleasing. So much so that it is easy to miss the depth of connotation within it. The 1 Cor. quote spells out the case without flourish and leaves a clear imprint on the mind but has less impact on the soul than the lyrical SoS. The truth that birthed both ideas (or, the one idea expressed two ways) is made clear through the comparison. Simply put, we cannot live for ourselves and fulfill all God’s plans for us. This is true in many areas of living but deserves special consideration in respect to marriage and relationships. In marriage, two imperfect souls are bound together in a way that compounds/exacerbates the effects of both selfishness and selflessness. As the foundational unit of society a married couple’s behavior to each other, good and bad, reverberates throughout many lives and sets the tone and timbre of the society around them. Marriage God’s way blesses society, the family, and the individuals in the marriage.
The Song of Solomon is a lyric poem written to extol the virtues of love between a husband and his wife. The poem clearly presents marriage as God’s design. A man and woman are to live together within the context of marriage, loving each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically.This book combats two extremes: asceticism (the denial of all pleasure) and hedonism (the pursuit of only pleasure). The marriage profiled in Song of Solomon is a model of care, commitment, and delight. (http://www.gotquestions.org/Song-of-Solomon.html)
Our world is confused about marriage. The prevalence of divorce and modern attempts to redefine marriage stand in glaring contrast to Solomon’s Song. Marriage, says the biblical poet, is to be celebrated, enjoyed, and revered. This book provides some practical guidelines for strengthening our marriages:
1) Give your spouse the attention he or she needs. Take the time to truly know your spouse.
2) Encouragement and praise, not criticism, is vital to a successful relationship.
3) Enjoy each other. Plan some getaways. Be creative, even playful, with each other. Delight in God’s gift of married love.
4) Do whatever is necessary to reassure your commitment to your spouse. Renew your vows; work through problems and do not consider divorce as a solution. God intends for you both to live in a deeply peaceful, secure love. (http://www.gotquestions.org/Song-of-Solomon.html
Sunday, September 20, 2009
season
From the cyclopean heavens a chill wind does race
It warms the embers of our hearth
And causes Oberon’s silver sentinels
To change their verdant hues, for shades of Midas and Mars
Ready now, they are ready for winter’s freezing blast
And ‘fore the tread of the white king, gilt and gore to cast
Yet, not yet are summer’s days all done
There is still an autumn riot
Of colors in which to run
It warms the embers of our hearth
And causes Oberon’s silver sentinels
To change their verdant hues, for shades of Midas and Mars
Ready now, they are ready for winter’s freezing blast
And ‘fore the tread of the white king, gilt and gore to cast
Yet, not yet are summer’s days all done
There is still an autumn riot
Of colors in which to run
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
What world is this?
What world is this? When did the angels abdicate in favor of demons and darkness? Supposedly responsible, intelligent adults advocating treating people as cattle and cattle as people is a doctrine of destruction. Violence and injustice permeate every level of society, saturates government, education, entertainment and even family. The festering clot of broken and abused lives threatens to break out in a suppurating wound that could drown all of humanity in pus and blood. Individually, our ego-centric myopia and insensible, unquenchable demand for more leaves men trampled in storefronts, children beaten in school, infants murdered in hospitals. Those charged with the protection of society are become torturers, those charged with safeguarding turned thieves. We are cowed and cowardly, scraping before those called public servants. There is no judgment strong enough to bring justice to this situation; no disaster could assuage outraged righteousness. I hear Abel and Zachariah and Stephen and six million Jews and fifty million unborn children, their blood cries day and night for vengeance. That God is merciful is painful beyond endurance. I cry with Jonah, I am angry enough to die.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Deus ex machina
If you were driving along and saw a billboard that contained only the words, “I am God”, what would your reaction be? The positive recognition from within, The Place Materialists Deny (TPMD), is predictable because god, in the sense of ultimate authority, does truly exist in every human breast. More curious and revealing is the direction the finger of recognition points. For most that recognition would center on the personal ego. Though sub-conscious, the knowledge that externals are infinitely illusory compared to, “cogito ergo sum” suffices as Α and Ω on the wide road. For a few, internal recognition is caused by the presence of The Infinity Himself (TIH) in TPMD. The finger of recognition points to the cross. The cross first because TIH does not inhabit human hearts without it, and second because the personal ego needs a place to die. Two ultimate authorities would be an irrational paradox.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
To Dare
I give you this from Les Miserables, consider;
To dare;
that is the price of progress.
All sublime conquests are, more or less, the prizes of daring. In order that the Revolution should take place, it does not suffice that Montesquieu should foresee it, that Diderot should preach it, that Beaumarchais should announce it, that Condorcet should calculate it, that Arouet should prepare it, that Rousseau should premeditate it; it is necessary that Danton should dare it.
The cry: Audacity! is a Fiat lux. It is necessary, for the sake of the forward march of the human race, that there should be proud lessons of courage permanently on the heights. Daring deeds dazzle history and are one of man's great sources of light. The dawn dares when it rises. To attempt, to brave, to persist, to persevere, to be faithful to one's self, to grasp fate bodily, to astound catastrophe by the small amount of fear that it occasions us, now to affront unjust power, again to insult drunken victory, to hold one's position, to stand one's ground; that is the example which nations need, that is the light which electrifies them. The same formidable lightning proceeds from the torch of Prometheus to Cambronne's short pipe.
All sublime conquests are, more or less, the prizes of daring. In order that the Revolution should take place, it does not suffice that Montesquieu should foresee it, that Diderot should preach it, that Beaumarchais should announce it, that Condorcet should calculate it, that Arouet should prepare it, that Rousseau should premeditate it; it is necessary that Danton should dare it.
The cry: Audacity! is a Fiat lux. It is necessary, for the sake of the forward march of the human race, that there should be proud lessons of courage permanently on the heights. Daring deeds dazzle history and are one of man's great sources of light. The dawn dares when it rises. To attempt, to brave, to persist, to persevere, to be faithful to one's self, to grasp fate bodily, to astound catastrophe by the small amount of fear that it occasions us, now to affront unjust power, again to insult drunken victory, to hold one's position, to stand one's ground; that is the example which nations need, that is the light which electrifies them. The same formidable lightning proceeds from the torch of Prometheus to Cambronne's short pipe.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The prize
The accolades and disparagements given by the world are fleeting and random. Fame and infamy are equally ephemeral. At best they last only through this life, more usually only until the crowd is distracted by some new game. Prizes and derision are heaped without regard to reality. Too often the worst get praise while the best get short shrift from the short sighted. For a seeker of the real only one opinion regarding one's worth is valuable, that of one's creator. In Plato's allegory of the cave men are chained in darkness and bamboozled by games of guessing at shadows. I am that prisoner, lost in darkness, confused by shadows. How fortunate that One from outside, from the world of light came to set me free. His opinion alone has worth. There is a hymn with the line, "...all other ground is sinking sand." To act in accord with any desire but His is sinking sand indeed. What then is His desire? That all men should be saved. What must I do to be saved? The answer came from His own lips, "Belive in the one He has sent." And I must echo the reply, "Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief." Child of darkness that I am the world of light seems like only a sweet dream and the shadows on the wall more real than reports of sunlight, stars and rain. I counsel you, my callow, shallow heart, be not faint nor fear to follow. For, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The musician wearing motley from a german hamlet
Day after day
Alone on the hill
The man with the foolish grin
Is standing perfectly still
Those rats can race!
How those rats can race!
Race rats, race!
Meaningless, everything is meaningless!
In a vision I saw a rich man die surrounded by friends and relations, all with pointed teeth and sharp knives held behind their backs.
After that I saw a poor man die all alone without even a friend to bury him.
Why then are we made to smile and dance upon this stage?
It feels a little unjust.
But wait,
What does the word unjust mean if there is no justice?
Then, justice exists.
The existence of justice means that there is a judge and a judgment. Judgment requires distinction, discrimination but my vision demonstrated that rich or poor our end is the same. What then is the basis for this judgment? The judge renders the decision. Who is this judge? Who can divine immaterial qualities in every person all the time? It would require omniscience.
Alone on the hill
The man with the foolish grin
Is standing perfectly still
Those rats can race!
How those rats can race!
Race rats, race!
Meaningless, everything is meaningless!
In a vision I saw a rich man die surrounded by friends and relations, all with pointed teeth and sharp knives held behind their backs.
After that I saw a poor man die all alone without even a friend to bury him.
Why then are we made to smile and dance upon this stage?
It feels a little unjust.
But wait,
What does the word unjust mean if there is no justice?
Then, justice exists.
The existence of justice means that there is a judge and a judgment. Judgment requires distinction, discrimination but my vision demonstrated that rich or poor our end is the same. What then is the basis for this judgment? The judge renders the decision. Who is this judge? Who can divine immaterial qualities in every person all the time? It would require omniscience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)