Category: Personal

hermits and solitaries

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The Advisor Council publishes “A Handbook of the Religious Life” which is extremely helpful. In recent editions, there is an Appendix on hermits and solitaries.

The terms Hermit and Solitary are often used interchangeably but for the purposes of the Handbook, the term ‘hermit’ refers to a member of a Religious Community and the term ‘solitary’ refers to one who is not a Religious.

Appendix V

There is a long tradition that anchorites (modern solitaries) are semi-religious. The above gives a technical starting point. There are many consequences from the above short working definition. Maybe I will post about them?!

emotional clutter

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Bloganuary writing prompt
Where can you reduce clutter in your life?
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Yes, there is much physical clutter in my life. (I am reordering The Anchorage and so I have everything out on the floor in the parlor, ie the front room.)

But I think emotional clutter is what makes my life more difficult. Don’t get me wrong: I like my emotions! I like feeling things and it is what makes me “me”. Yet I have emotional rubbish that really should be surrendered to the bin.

Like? Attachment to ways of doing things that simply do not work anymore. Or to ways of being that are no longer me, or were never me. And, of course, emotional attachment to people who are no longer part of my life.

I do not want to become a robot. However, I want to focus my emotional energy on people and situations that are relevant to my current life. And I need to let go of people who have decided to no longer be a part of my life.

If only some emotions were like an ice cream wrapper that goes in the bin after use.

to continue?

~ a solitary ~ 1 Comment

Every year I have the same question: renew this blog or not?

I have not posted a lot in the past year and, from a completely self-centered egotistical point of view, this blog has had relatively small views. Is there something to be said for continuing?

Maybe the answer needs to come from within and not from the outside: do I see a point to continue? Yes, I do! I like writing even if I do it sporadically. I journal in my private life but do not feel comfrotable moving that into the public sphere. So this blog fills an in-between space? I think I have little to say academically – a past dream that has been lost in the darkness of the past. I worry about criticism and all the negative space of the blogosphere. My journal allows me to put into words on a page what is going on inside and it helps me to manage that space. So this blog is the next step: putting my life into words for the outside world.

The solitary life, by its existentialist stance and choice, is a proclamation of a paradox – life is more than productivity. It is also a life of waiting. Maybe these are themes I need to explore this year? I would also like to think aloud about the contemplative life within Anglicanism – is it possible or desirable?

So you have me for another year!

feelings?

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For most of my life, I have heard people say, “Feelings cannot be trusted”. And I must have said it a few times myself. I assume that feelings are subjective and therefore not trustworthy. But “reason” (whatever that may be) can be trusted because it is objective.

Why? Why can I not trust my feelings? Why can I not trust the subjective? In fact, why would I trust the objective? And is there such a thing as objective? Is reason always objective?

Why is only that trustworthy which is outside of me?

Maybe Boethius is to blame? Most likely it is me.

nearly a year …

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It is almost a year. I moved on 21 October. It has been a somewhat strange year and, to be honest, at the moment is not great. (Whenever I write that I am not sure if I am being honest or emotionally fishing – I hope it is read as simple honesty.)

I am going to try a new “interest” – photography. One photo a day is my aim. Hopefully not of books but my general life in The Anchorage.

Anyway …

just “no” …

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I do not believe in the Bible but I think it is important. I do not need to understand the book “literally” to take it seriously.

I believe JESUS is the revelation of love. I believe an encounter with JESUS transforms me. And that is why I read the Bible.

There will be a time when the Bible will no longer be read – that is, it is contingent. There will never be a time that Jesus is not Lord and Saviour – that is, he is necessary.

I make a PERSON Priority #1 in my life, not an object (however precious).

hello?!

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So I have not posted in some time. No reason! I have been trying to write in a notebook, which seems to work for me.

I have been trying to read more. So some Kafka short stories and Satre’s No Exit for this week. I like No Exit – it gets there quicker than most Christian writers.

I do wonder why I read?! Is it for information, to stop boredom, or something more? Is it controlled interaction with people?

Anyway… stay warm (or cool) and read!