… to become irrelevant. I pray for and fear it at the same time. To be an outsider, to be a “newbie”, to be a nothing.
Like Augustine. “yes, but not yet”.
Psalm 31
... wait in hope for the Lord.
going into the desert
Daily writing prompt
List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.
I am delighted where I am “at” right now. I like the context for my “vocation”. So no changes are necessary at the moment!!!!!
But I have thought about “going into the desert”. Could I live completely off the grid? Without contact, without modern communications. I often feel I am still way too much in the world – still too entangled. I have absolutely no idea how that would happen. And I am certain it would be a real struggle for me physically and emotionally. But sometimes I wonder!?
Wish you were here
This is pretty easy – Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. It is the first album I purchased with my own money on cassette. It was in the original blue case, and I played side 2 nonstop. But I remember being absolutely freaked out by Welcome to the Machine.
I still listen to it most weeks. Now, it’s on some streaming service, and I still like the second half better. And I am still completely freaked when I hear the lift open.
holy days
How do you celebrate holidays?
Holy Days are celebrated with Te Deum at Morning Prayer and Second Evening Prayer.
One of the things about living alone – being solitary – is that days fade into each other. So I am glad for the liturgical year that reminds me of important events and people. I like that time is regulated by Jesus.
only when chased
My current circumstances mean that I walk everywhere. The shops, church, and medical appointments are all within walking distance. I should walk more and sit less.
When do I run? Only when chased.
others and me
I am no leader. I lack the interpersonal skills, the confidence, the insight, and the prudence to lead. My thought pattern is too confusing, And let’s face it: a little on the eccentric side. My emotions get involved too quickly and everything becomes a reflection of “me”.
That does not, however, mean that “others” do not see me as a leader. It is a position that I have been pushed into through circumstances – a completely unwarranted and unwanted position.
So …. no!
take my life …
abstraction
Not sure I have a favourite word. But I like “abstraction”. Here is a small definition from John Locke (the philosopher, not the character on Lost):
‘So words are used to stand as outward marks of our internal ideas, which are taken from particular things; but if every particular idea that we take in had its own special name, there would be no end to names. To prevent this, the mind makes particular ideas received from particular things become general; which it does by considering them as they are in the mind—mental appearances—separate from all other existences, and from the circumstances of real existence, such as time, place, and so on. This procedure is called abstraction. In it, an idea taken from a particular thing becomes a general representative of all of the same kind, and its name becomes a general name that is applicable to any existing thing that fits that abstract idea.’ (2.11.9)
Why? The idea is somewhat central to one of Kierkegaard’s later books, Two Ages. And, methinks, it is pretty important to understand some modern ideas and issues.
different levels
I want to post something like taking long walks along the beach. The reality is that I rarely relax – there are just different levels of anxiety, and then sleep.
Reading and music help. Being alone is always a good start. Early morning is better than late at night.”Home” is much better than away. If not possible, a small group of people is better than a large one.
a fool and his prayer book 