I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you - Nobody - too?
Then there's a pair of us!
Don't tell! they'd banish us - you know!
How dreary - to be - Somebody!
How public - like a Frog -
To tell your name - the livelong June -
To an admiring Bog!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Abolition of Man
"In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midsts. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful." -Abolition of Man, Lewis
Monday, November 21, 2011
Little Post-it Notes
I have these little post-it notes in my memory bank. I think they are filtered by the information processing police in my brain keeping track of what's-important and what's-not.
I never get to read them until years later, but today I got to see one!
I was 17 when I fell into young dumb love for the first time. It was all the movie scenes--pushing shopping carts, kissing in the rain, writing songs about each other. When you're falling in love, inconsequential things are always pregnant with meaning, and this was one of those times. We were sitting in the car, mellowing out to some weepy emo song when I asked him to tell me what he dreamed of. Where was he, what was he doing, what was he feeling, at the most perfect moment he could imagine?
He said he was walking down a street positioned in a quaint little town, wearing a big black peacoat and gloves. The best feeling was the warmth of someone else's hand in his on a cold, winter night.
I told him I pictured myself in a rustic, sort of trendy run-down basement in a big city where things happened that shaped the world. I was praying with a group of close friends that God would move and do something through us as a community.
He said that sounded awesome, started the car, and we drove home.
He wouldn't even remember this conversation happened. I didn't remember it--until I realized that, 3 years later, we were both living out our dreams. He moved back home and dated a pretty blonde for three years. I moved to Manhattan and tried to change the world (/realized that world changing is slightly more fun in theory than in practice).
Your dreams really do inform your life. Think about them, verbalize them, see if they match up with someone else's. I always wondered why it didn't work out with that guy. Maybe it's because we had different dreams.
I never get to read them until years later, but today I got to see one!
I was 17 when I fell into young dumb love for the first time. It was all the movie scenes--pushing shopping carts, kissing in the rain, writing songs about each other. When you're falling in love, inconsequential things are always pregnant with meaning, and this was one of those times. We were sitting in the car, mellowing out to some weepy emo song when I asked him to tell me what he dreamed of. Where was he, what was he doing, what was he feeling, at the most perfect moment he could imagine?
He said he was walking down a street positioned in a quaint little town, wearing a big black peacoat and gloves. The best feeling was the warmth of someone else's hand in his on a cold, winter night.
I told him I pictured myself in a rustic, sort of trendy run-down basement in a big city where things happened that shaped the world. I was praying with a group of close friends that God would move and do something through us as a community.
He said that sounded awesome, started the car, and we drove home.
He wouldn't even remember this conversation happened. I didn't remember it--until I realized that, 3 years later, we were both living out our dreams. He moved back home and dated a pretty blonde for three years. I moved to Manhattan and tried to change the world (/realized that world changing is slightly more fun in theory than in practice).
Your dreams really do inform your life. Think about them, verbalize them, see if they match up with someone else's. I always wondered why it didn't work out with that guy. Maybe it's because we had different dreams.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Water Slow
Any bud can grow
Into a full-blown rose,
So be careful where you water
And always water slow.
Choose how you may,
But you may be misguided
There are hues of every shade,
And thorns of many sizes.
Into a full-blown rose,
So be careful where you water
And always water slow.
Choose how you may,
But you may be misguided
There are hues of every shade,
And thorns of many sizes.
Friday, November 11, 2011
A good relationship should have...
1) The "secret thread" that turns strangers into close friends.
"You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words...Are not all lifelong friendships born at that moment when at last you meet another human being who has some inkling...of that something wich you were born desiring..."
-The Problem of Pain
2) The ability to share everything.
"The person love does to us fit, like manna, has the taste of all in it."
-Emerson
"For a good wife contains so many persons in herself. What was H. not to me? She was my daughter and my mother, my pupil and my teacher, my subject and my sovereign; and always, holding all these in solution, my trusy comrade, friend, shipmate, fellow-soldier. My mistress; but at the same time all that any man friend has ever been to me. Perhaps more. If we had never fallen in love we should have none the less been always together, and created a scandal...Solomon calls his bride Sister. Could a woman be a complete wife unless, for a moment, in one particular mood, a man felt almost inclined to call her Brother?"
-A Grief Observed
"You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words...Are not all lifelong friendships born at that moment when at last you meet another human being who has some inkling...of that something wich you were born desiring..."
-The Problem of Pain
2) The ability to share everything.
"The person love does to us fit, like manna, has the taste of all in it."
-Emerson
"For a good wife contains so many persons in herself. What was H. not to me? She was my daughter and my mother, my pupil and my teacher, my subject and my sovereign; and always, holding all these in solution, my trusy comrade, friend, shipmate, fellow-soldier. My mistress; but at the same time all that any man friend has ever been to me. Perhaps more. If we had never fallen in love we should have none the less been always together, and created a scandal...Solomon calls his bride Sister. Could a woman be a complete wife unless, for a moment, in one particular mood, a man felt almost inclined to call her Brother?"
-A Grief Observed
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A Sea of Flight
She hobbled through the whole world blindCause she just wanted to rest her eyes,
Just wanted to rest her eyes.
She loved the darkness more than light,
The hazy cloud of the quiet night
Where no foul thing could harm or bite.
Her tools were too worn down to fight,
So she bathed herself in a sea of flight
In the hazy cloud of the quiet night.
She just wanted to rest her eyes,
Just wanted to rest her eyes.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
What is Masculinity?
All my girlfriends seem to be itching to get married, while my guy friends are postponing it as long as possible. What's the deal?
When you think of marriage, it doesn't even seem to fit the "alpha male" nature. When a guy is single and using women, people will say, "He's just being a guy."
It's a shame that our view of masculinity is so base and...animalistic. Tim Keller in The Meaning of Marriage says that throughout history this trend was reversed. Marriage was actually the means by which males became truly masculine. "For most of Western history, the primary and most valued characteristic of manhood was self-mastery...a man who indulged in excessive eating, drinking, sleeping or sex--who failed to 'rule himself'--was considered unfit to rule his household, much less a polity..."
Our definitions of "what's masculine" and "what's not" are off. As women, we are partly to blame because we expect nothing more of men than their baser qualities and then blame them for not marrying us.
We perpetuate the idea that "guys are just gonna be guys" when that idea doesn't even represent what real masculinity looks like: someone who's affections are not easily moved, someone who knows what they want and is willing to fight for it, someone who is secure enough in his own person to love you selflessly, not because he is trying to fill a void in himself.
A man that can rule himself is truly captivating.
When you think of marriage, it doesn't even seem to fit the "alpha male" nature. When a guy is single and using women, people will say, "He's just being a guy."
It's a shame that our view of masculinity is so base and...animalistic. Tim Keller in The Meaning of Marriage says that throughout history this trend was reversed. Marriage was actually the means by which males became truly masculine. "For most of Western history, the primary and most valued characteristic of manhood was self-mastery...a man who indulged in excessive eating, drinking, sleeping or sex--who failed to 'rule himself'--was considered unfit to rule his household, much less a polity..."
Our definitions of "what's masculine" and "what's not" are off. As women, we are partly to blame because we expect nothing more of men than their baser qualities and then blame them for not marrying us.
We perpetuate the idea that "guys are just gonna be guys" when that idea doesn't even represent what real masculinity looks like: someone who's affections are not easily moved, someone who knows what they want and is willing to fight for it, someone who is secure enough in his own person to love you selflessly, not because he is trying to fill a void in himself.
A man that can rule himself is truly captivating.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Dancing at night on a kitchen floor
Midnight shadows dance along
Somewhere a piano drones on and on
Beauty finds it's favorite song
To linger here before it's gone.
Body moves and twirls it's feet
Forward, back, again, repeat
We're making marks on the kitchen floor
Faking peace in a time of war.
Somewhere a piano drones on and on
Beauty finds it's favorite song
To linger here before it's gone.
Body moves and twirls it's feet
Forward, back, again, repeat
We're making marks on the kitchen floor
Faking peace in a time of war.
Art is War
Feeling demotivated? Lame? Procrastinating? Don't want to be an artist anymore?
Read this book. Now.
It helps readers channel their creative energy, unlock potential and overcome the fears that stop them from reaching their fullest potential.
By following the theme of resistance (a universal force that never rests from attacking awakening artists from creating) it makes us aware of what we're up against in any meaningful, creative endeavor.
Resistance tells you to forsake the noble for the easy. Quit your writing projects and get a normal job, settle down with that person you aren't madly in love with, put off that project just one more day. Resistance does anything it can to stop you. It shows up in all kinds of forms - and not always like the green ugly monster in your closet - it sometimes uses even the most reasonable arguments to get you off track.
It's one thing to know it in theory, but in practice, we have to keep in mind that art is war. It's not always fun and redeeming and fulfilling to create beautiful things that captivate people's hearts and attention. There cannot be victory without bloodshed.
The best way to battle resistance is to get up each morning and do the hard work of creating, regardless of how we feel. This is the difference between the amateur and the professional. The amateur creates for the high of creating, the professional refines his/her craft until near perfection - and this can only happen by simply waking up every day and doing it.
So today, if it feels like all of the universe is battling against you in your attempts to do something great, be encouraged. It means that what you're doing is worthwhile, and if you keep putting the work in, you're on your way to it.
And if you don't feel that way--what are you doing?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wisdom
Interesting that this chapter only mentions a few practical things you need to do to get wisdom. so I guess they are important. Like...
-Be willing to sacrifice. Line 7 says, "though it cost all you have, get wisdom."
-Stay away from evildoers.
-Guard your heart (not as an afterthought. "Above all else...")
-Don't talk perversely.
-Look ahead at what's in front of you (not at what other people are doing or what happened in the past).
-Think through a step before you take it.
Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
-Be willing to sacrifice. Line 7 says, "though it cost all you have, get wisdom."
-Stay away from evildoers.
-Guard your heart (not as an afterthought. "Above all else...")
-Don't talk perversely.
-Look ahead at what's in front of you (not at what other people are doing or what happened in the past).
-Think through a step before you take it.
Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
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