"A sophistical rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity, and gifted with an egotistical imagination that can at all times command an interminable and inconsistent series of arguments to malign an opponent and to glorify himself." -Benjamin Disreali's wonderful description of rival William Gladstone.Blogs can become the very egotistical idols that the above quote perfectly exposes. The very thought that anyone would want to or need to, hear anything from us; is on a certain level, born of pride or insecurity.
One wonders, if he doesn't bark...who will ever feed him?
That is very revealing and it exposes the deep brokenness or dysfunction at play within the tortured blogging soul. I am sure bloggers represent the cream of the crop of undernurtured babies who got bottles instead of boobies....and we are still craving the soothing cradle of mommie's-baby talk...ie. the comment section of blogs.
In fact, the very act of preaching, teaching, writing, poetry, the arts, acting on and on...at some levels exposes us needy artistic cats, who are always careening at cultures heals, for a pet and a stroke.
It's all so painfully psychosomatic....and yet, God, truth, community, revelation, comfort, escape, healing, awakening, conviction, transformation, life, death and a host of other seeds of experience get sown.
In the end...its all so very conflicted...but blood covers it all.
In that, I have to rest.
(Props to my father in law for always using part of the above quote, which is where I first heard of it)
5 comments:
"Patient silence is the best reply to a world of cruel opposition"
Thanks Dan for the quote :)
I wonder though, how far, and to what extent the quiet should remain. At what point do we move from silent observer to voice of truth?
For example:
How does one remain quiet in a world of clanging gongs that seek to further perpetuate false gospel? One might ask, "false according to who?"
I think it a fine line of service to God when one feels compelled to speak up, while at the same time seeking Gods grace for humility to not "need" the validation that comes from entering into discussions.
Duly noted and agreed with is the need for pet and a stroke...
Refinement of gifts includes learning to be silent, learning when to speak up, and listening closely to the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit on which is appropriate in that moment...
Cliche but true is
God grant me the serenity (quiet) to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage (bravery, spirit, boldness) to change the things I can;
and the wisdom (discern, insight, prudence, common sense) to know the difference.
"At what point do we move from silent observer to voice of truth?"
Good question! But what about moving from silent observer to voice of questions? Voice of where-I-am-right-now? Voice of how-the-heck-do-I-make-sense-of-this-mess?
Who's to say whether we're being the voice of truth? Or simply being the voice of truth as we see it right now? Isn't our version, our vision, of truth, constantly changing? Thank God that He's got it all figured out, and that He has patience with us as we struggle through trying to find a few fragments of Truth here and there. :0)
"Blogs can become the very egotistical idols that the above quote perfectly exposes. The very thought that anyone would want to or need to, hear anything from us; is on a certain level, born of pride or insecurity."
BTW, I must confess, I find myself in this, to the deep sorrow of my heart. I wish that I, like you, could have been someone who would have continued blogging even after having posted hundreds of posts without a single comment... You were incredibly faithful to this vision, and God is honoring your commitment. I hope you see that.
I blog, therefore I am.
Isn't a true statement.
I do value blogging, as a spiritual discipline. It forms and shapes relational skills. It requires one to think, respond, repent and work on communication.
It's a refining tool and a sharp whittling stick for the writing craft. Its also a compass or a map, depending on God's seasons and ways, for those I love.
I appreciate the words, the participation and the friendships that spring up around blogging...I loathe the temptations of fame, identity, pride, self righteousness and voyeurism that plague the path.
These thoughts I blog about are part of the process of confession that we all are told to include i our communal life.
We all wrestle with darkness and light keeps darkness at bay.
The demons of public life, teaching life, writing life and the arts...are unique and always in need of exorcism.
Do you literally mean blood? Whoa that's weird. I think it's a sort of wrestling match where we push, pull and sweet talk each other into not taking ourselves too seriously. A modern self induced pillow flogging. That's it! Flogging not Blogging.
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