It's been a strange week, starting with nervous anticipation that turned to disquieted satisfaction ever evolving still through frustration, anger, dismay, sadness, hope, relief, and finally outright joy.
But to get perspective I'm listening to Sea Change while writing this.
(you should try listening to the album for at least four hours straight sometime)
I don't know everything, I probably don't even know enough for it to be worth your while to read this collection of essays, ramblings, and rants.
But I think it's better to be aware of that, than to know whatever it is I don't know. That much knowledge changes you, and not in a way I want to be changed.
The quest for truth is a strange quest to embark upon in an age that shouts at the top of it's collective lungs "THERE IS NO TRUTH."
I think the reason there is such rampant denial of something so obvious is simple.
The truth is just about the worst thing to know,
if knowing is where it stops for you.
Why? Probably because truth inherently moves people, and the truth-knowers who sit still, in denial, are killing themselves, and their knowledge does nothing but kill everything around them.
To be motivated by something false, or marginally incorrect even, and to respond to it without reservation, is a much better life to my mind, then to deny the motivations of perfected knowledge.
Who needs truth? When everyone who claims to have it is so messed up, it doesn't look very appealing, especially when everyone who doesn't is getting by just fine.
Compartmentalization of life is probably the subtlest form of suicide there is.
If you can isolate the relevance of something from anything you're already doing it.
The tragedy here is that we all need truth, direction propelled from false motivation can kill you a lot quicker, the other way, by virtue of being slower, is much more nasty and potentially devastating.
I'm reminded of Samuel L. Jackson towards the end of Pulp Fiction, he seems to be almost pleading with Tim Roth's character,
"I'm trying to be the shepherd"
For me to have peace of mind, the solution isn't to deny my inclination towards being a shepherd, I can only try to learn more about tending sheep.
4 comments:
Roles change, people are accountable mostly to themselves regardless of what degree of truth is beholden, and the power to make people do something is usually the motivating factor behind both principles. Where I find Christianity lacking is in the judgement department, because really, we are obligated to make judgements about people if we are ever going to refine or evolve. Then, it's a matter of taking the bull by the horns...or submitting, based on rational judgements, and guided by the faith that moves you.
Wait - correction - judgements guide, faith moves. I see a big distinction there that is important to parse.
I agree about judgment, Christians are lacking, I wouldn't say the fault lies with Christianity, as there is no perfect understanding of it being demonstrated. Even right judgment can be acted on poorly. The questions I'm pondering are which is better, to err on the side of right action based on bad judgment or vice versa.
well i'd say that each man's disposition and history intermingle - if you want to change or lead others, the most effective approach is to appeal to their self interest. preach big change, but when you have the helm, take small steps, because people are creatures of habit - even when they know change is a must, people hate changing.
on the microlevel, the parry and joust of communication is key, right? it's like dancing - how do you lead when your partners want to feel like they are in charge of their own darn selves? people rarely say exactly what they mean - so many reasons why - paramount being the dignity of the individual.
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