I am periodically prone to ambushes from the adversary -- or something -- that let me know I've wasted my life and that all this spirituality business is a rationalization. A dodge. So I know very well how to be a skeptic.
Deep faith is only that of the skeptic who prays.
Moreover,
There is some collusion between skepticism and faith: both undermine human presumptuousness.
Back when I first dabbled in philosophy, I was drawn to existentialism. In hindsight, I was probably just depressed, because if depression had an ideology it would be the meaninglessness of existentialism.
Dávila has many aphorisms that go to this darker side of life, for example, how could he say this if he didn't know this?
He who does not search for God at the bottom of his soul finds nothing there but mud.
Or this:
When providence gives us the destiny we desire, we soon discover that to accept it requires a desolating resignation.
Indeed,
Who is more than the miserable site of an epiphany?
But Señor, I find your little epiphanies to be quite helpful. Don't be so hard on yourself.
Self-satisfaction is pathetic proof of lowliness.
Men are less mediocre when they do not think themselves obligated not to be.
Maybe you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed?
Man is nothing but the spectator of his impotence.
Any satisfaction is a form of forgetfulness.
That's not very promising. Have you made no progress?
There is no spiritual victory that is not necessary to win anew each day.
That's at least a form of victory, no?
Every life is an unsuccessful experiment.
He who wishes to avoid grotesque collapses should look for nothing in space or time that will fulfill him.
Nothing? Are you sure you're not an existentialist in disguise?
The briefest commotion of the soul makes us feel that our existence is like a grave that is being filled.
Man does not have the power to do anything important. Only to hope that what he does will have an important result.
Now, on the other hand,
God sometimes prunes our branches like an impatient gardener.
And
Faith in God does not solve problems, but makes them ridiculous.
Defeats are never definitive when they are accepted in good humor.
14 comments:
Every life is an unsuccessful experiment.
Oof - I felt that.
I'm haunted by something Churchill -- who accomplished as much as it is possible to accomplish in a single lifetime -- said when he was out of power in the late '50s: "I have achieved a great deal to achieve nothing in the end." Nothing in space or time sufficed.
Later he said "I feel like an aeroplane at the end of its flight, in the dusk, petrol running out, in search of a safe landing" -- a spectator of his impotence.
We all wrestle doubt daily. What a drag , and it never lets up. Fie. There is wisdom in smoking a little pot periodically to keep one's head in the Good Zone. God did not create the cannabis plant to just sit around looking pretty. Use her. The gifts of God for the people of God. Amen
I’ve always felt (presumed) that presumptuousness is original sin.
Gagdad, arise ye and smite the adversary this day. Thank you Good Dr.
We must remember, those who are not against us are for us.
How is everyone doing? I'm getting by OK. To feel virtuous daily, floss your teeth. This builds morale. Move up to washing dishes. Escalate to food shopping, rise even higher to cooking and eating a nutritious meal, leave the dishes in the sink for the next day, and cap it all off with a satisfying nights sleep. We'll all be right as rain with this regimen. Sound as a hound. And we had best be. Many of us will go over the top tomorrow.
The early morning assault was a success! Objectives met. Now consolidating the position and planning an advance. Who is with me?
Did you know: Life is a war? You are a soldier? You can put on the armor of God?
Did:
You know this world is always taking?
You know your heart is close to breaking?
Jesus calls us to lay down our heavy burdens.
Weary traveler, restless soul, you were never meant to walk this road alone.
Someday soon we'll make it home.
It will all be worth it, so just hold on.
Weary traveler, you won't be weary long.
God only knows what you've been through.
God only knows what to say about you.
God only knows the real you.
Regards, Colonel Trench. Carry on.
So I typically fall behind here when working on a post or series of them, and then catch up. For the last few months, actually since May, I've been wrapped up in one (well, 17 posts in one, so far... yeh...) but feeling the lack of OC led me to a rather unexpected, possibly questionably Raccoon-ish thing to do. I drive into work twice a week, and I discovered that it was possible to, instead of putting on the radio or podcasts, I could have my phone read me the last few OC posts during my drive in and back.
Oddly enough, it's been rather enjoyable. It's easy to have it repeat a line or paragraph while driving, it's kinda fun figuring out the puns it stumbles over, and it makes the mindlessly foolish commute, into a wonderfully useless activity.
It's also spared ya'll more than a few unnecessary comments (the posts on Being almost made it from my 'notepad' to comments, but you recovered nicely and it wasn't needed).
This is... what, the 2nd? 3rd? break in that time? Anyway, hi Julie & Gagdad, just wanted to say I only appear to have dissappeared, and I hope this hiatus also fails.
Van
Hi Van! I never would have thought of using text to speech for a post, but that's rather brilliant for anyone who needs to listen rather than read.
Good morning One Cosmos community.
Today, a sinner goes out into the world with the best of intentions. Pray for me, friends. My relationships are filled with tension and strife.
I cannot see the correct way forward. Is there a correct way forward? Is it not to remember God and to surrender all to Him at every moment? What other way is there?
Pray for me, friends. I hurt.
Your faithful servant, Trench
;-)
Yet another tremendous day breasted as if it was a storm-driven comber; oh to slide down the frothy backside of the giant wave and into the slumber of the bed...the warm embrace of a loved one...a temporary stay of travail.
I've tasted suffering; I've been embraced by the painful buffering; I've been bound by doubts. But a melody is made when You play these rusty keys; we must be tuned like instruments. I know - even in the madness, there is peace
Drowning out the voices all around me; through all of this chaos You were writing a symphony, a symphony....
Rest well, beloved of Christ ye all, peace be with you.
Love from Trench.
Good evening all and sundry. Are we of good cheer? In my misshapen hands I hold a bottle of very old, very expensive Scotch whisky. I do not drink, so I ponder this bottle and ask, "What is the universe trying to tell me right now?" There is a message in everything.
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