“Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems an oddity and, for that matter, a waste.
Nevertheless, this is the driving influence behind every human’s social development, their emotional health and sense of joy, and, sadly, their greatest tragedies.
It is as though something that had helped them function and live well has gone missing, and they are pining for that missing thing in all sorts of odd methods, none of which are working. The greater tragedy is that very few people understand they have the disease.
This seems strange as well because it is obvious.
To be sure, it is killing them, and yet sustaining their social and economic systems. They are an entirely beautiful people with a terrible problem.
”
anx·ious
I read an article yesterday that said the amount of diagnosed anxiety disorders in America had risen 1200% in the last three decades. That’s a 400% increase every decade.
I think this matters.
Statistics don’t normally do it for me but this is different because I’ve seen this statistic.
It seems as if people are pre-programmed to need affirmation. To need someone or something to tell them there good, to tell them they’re worthwhile. And we’re anxious because we’re more connected. The more connected we are to people who we’re interested in redeeming us the more afraid we become that they’ll suddenly discover we’re not as cool as we want to be.
It’s like that moment when you realize hockey isn’t as cool as the mighty ducks made it out to be.
Somewhere along the way we started seeking redemption from a jury of our peers and a collection of pretty “status” badges placed on our battered weary self in hopes of decorating what sucks to make it pleasant and approvable.
“The easiest thing to do is throw a rock. It’s a lot harder to create a stained glass window. I used to get upset at the people who threw rocks but now I’d rather spend my time building the stained glass windows.”
Afternoon Cover Music
Come thou Fount is probably one of the most popular hymns ever written. It was written by Robert Robinson, who lost his father at the age of 5. His mother’s father had never accepted the marriage which had joined young Robert’s wealthy mother and his poor father; consequently, he had no father figure and no grandfather. Robert eventually moved at 14 to London to become an apprentice to a barber. London grew him in wild ways by all account. One night at the age of 17 he and his friends set out to go to an evangelistic meeting…chiefly to make fun of that meeting. That night he heard George Whitfield preach from Matthew about fleeing God’s wrath. This left him unsettled for the next three years. He eventually acquiesced to his notions of faith. At the age of 22 before a sermon he sat down and wrote the words to Come thou Fount.
Feeling more like the clay we are.
I spent this past weekend in Flat Rock North Carolina at Bonclarken a place for retreats and strange people. Since the summer has ended, I’ve had numerous conversations that included “how was your summer” and then the classic responses, but in some longer conversations I’ve really been enlightened.
I’ve come to the conclusion that so many things we experience are shaping us and forming us for the future. We are being equipped with every conversation for a purpose we have not yet fully realized. Let the significance of that sink in to you.
People will leave this place and move on but what matters is what they carry with them.
the fall.
Didn’t know what to say about the fall so I just posted photos that remind me of the joy that is the fall.
