It's not just that "enlightened" minds see us as unenlightened, they fail to see many of their own views as flights of fancy. Much of the multi-billion-year age of the universe rests on guesswork based on the realization that if the universe spontaneously formed itself from randomly collected atoms it would require incredible stretches of time. Recall that science repeatedly stretched the age of the universe from millions of years to billions as it became more clear that the process required more time than they originally thought.
My very worn copies sit in pride of place on one of my bookshelves
W was somewhat of a sociopath - my mother was part of a healthcare team who looked after him in his later years. I have no idea what he’d make of the swarming masses nowadays. Volume 1 was ‘written’ in 1957?FWIW my advice is look to the more remote fells
Of course you could develop your handwriting and publish as he did :)
A beautiful reflection, Hadden. Thank you for sharing so honestly and with such curiosity and conviction.
This is a good reminder to me that when I speak with my friends and acquaintances and those around me about this world that we live in, its brokenness and ugliness and the things which are so clearly wrong, that I must return to the fact that such is indeed an unnatural state — for we were meant to live in wholeness. Just as the barrenness of winter reminds of the beauty of flowering spring, such observations of decay and brokenness ought to remind me of the true life that is to come, and the goodness of the world which our Father actually intended us to live in.
I really enjoyed reading this. I just finished Chesterton's biography of St. Francis of Assisi, and this was a timely follow up. I think he'd (Chesterton) would approve of what you've written here.
As a new and grateful reader I am savoring your words "From time to time, my essays presuppose a distinctly Christian worldview and belief. This is one of those. I don’t expect everyone to like, and certainly not agree, with what I have written here. That is fine." I'm in the Christian lineage by culture and heart, but not in the organized variety these days. I am Earth-souled. I am a dancer and a Californian in necessary relationship with so many cultures and wisdom teachings that influence me. I bow every which way to the point of becoming Inter-faithful. All to say, I'm moved by your kind, appreciative welcome and witness to Christian saints who were kindred with creatures. I get glimpses of this communion in some people I meet. It is a beacon of beauty. Happy Birthday.
This is from the poignant last poem Czesław Miłosz wrote before his death in 2003, "Goodness," apparently a reflection on Oskar Milosz. Oskar, a mystical and eccentric Catholic poet, passed away in 1939; Czesław, his younger and ultimately more famous relative, survived two totalitarian regimes to embrace Gnostic pessimism (he was once quoted as saying, "War is only nature speeded up"). He found his "uncle" Oskar a fascinating and attractive figure, but also recognized the gulf between them, not necessarily to his own credit.
"...I thus asked myself how he had managed to quell
His rebellion and bring himself to such humble charity.
Probably because this world, evil but existing,
He thought better than one that did not exist.
But he also believed in the immaculate beauty of the earth from before the fall of Adam.
Whose free decision had brought death upon humans and animals.
But this was already something my mind would not grasp."
Forgive me for not relating this directly to what you've said in your fine essay.
It's not just that "enlightened" minds see us as unenlightened, they fail to see many of their own views as flights of fancy. Much of the multi-billion-year age of the universe rests on guesswork based on the realization that if the universe spontaneously formed itself from randomly collected atoms it would require incredible stretches of time. Recall that science repeatedly stretched the age of the universe from millions of years to billions as it became more clear that the process required more time than they originally thought.
Thanks, Hadden :)
As so often it is unintentional connections which catch my eye
‘What I realised was that I am dealing with men who would have considered fabricating stories about themselves as lying. Sin. ‘
This is a great way of expressing sin in terms of what Iain McGilchrist calls Left Hemispheric Captivation
When I’m on Sabbatical part of my ‘project’ is to write up some of this
My pleasure Eric.
I received the most wonderful of gifts from my wife - the complete works of Wainwright. Now to climb some fells!
Excellent
My very worn copies sit in pride of place on one of my bookshelves
W was somewhat of a sociopath - my mother was part of a healthcare team who looked after him in his later years. I have no idea what he’d make of the swarming masses nowadays. Volume 1 was ‘written’ in 1957?FWIW my advice is look to the more remote fells
Of course you could develop your handwriting and publish as he did :)
A beautiful reflection, Hadden. Thank you for sharing so honestly and with such curiosity and conviction.
This is a good reminder to me that when I speak with my friends and acquaintances and those around me about this world that we live in, its brokenness and ugliness and the things which are so clearly wrong, that I must return to the fact that such is indeed an unnatural state — for we were meant to live in wholeness. Just as the barrenness of winter reminds of the beauty of flowering spring, such observations of decay and brokenness ought to remind me of the true life that is to come, and the goodness of the world which our Father actually intended us to live in.
I really enjoyed reading this. I just finished Chesterton's biography of St. Francis of Assisi, and this was a timely follow up. I think he'd (Chesterton) would approve of what you've written here.
Thank you for this one, Hadden. I am inspired by your passion here. Bless you.
As a new and grateful reader I am savoring your words "From time to time, my essays presuppose a distinctly Christian worldview and belief. This is one of those. I don’t expect everyone to like, and certainly not agree, with what I have written here. That is fine." I'm in the Christian lineage by culture and heart, but not in the organized variety these days. I am Earth-souled. I am a dancer and a Californian in necessary relationship with so many cultures and wisdom teachings that influence me. I bow every which way to the point of becoming Inter-faithful. All to say, I'm moved by your kind, appreciative welcome and witness to Christian saints who were kindred with creatures. I get glimpses of this communion in some people I meet. It is a beacon of beauty. Happy Birthday.
"....They would eat from his hands
As if the law that demands that the smaller
Take shelter from the larger,
Lest it be devoured, was suspended.
As if time had turned back, and the paths
Of the heavenly garden shone anew...."
This is from the poignant last poem Czesław Miłosz wrote before his death in 2003, "Goodness," apparently a reflection on Oskar Milosz. Oskar, a mystical and eccentric Catholic poet, passed away in 1939; Czesław, his younger and ultimately more famous relative, survived two totalitarian regimes to embrace Gnostic pessimism (he was once quoted as saying, "War is only nature speeded up"). He found his "uncle" Oskar a fascinating and attractive figure, but also recognized the gulf between them, not necessarily to his own credit.
"...I thus asked myself how he had managed to quell
His rebellion and bring himself to such humble charity.
Probably because this world, evil but existing,
He thought better than one that did not exist.
But he also believed in the immaculate beauty of the earth from before the fall of Adam.
Whose free decision had brought death upon humans and animals.
But this was already something my mind would not grasp."
Forgive me for not relating this directly to what you've said in your fine essay.