To think at Valley Forge, when George Washington put on a play about Cato the Younger, privates in the continental army, battered by unceasing seasons of battle, knew not only the famous Roman statesman but the book he carried to his grave: Phaedo.
I enjoyed how you threaded this story together. Keep us posted on the jaguar.
I really appreciate you sharing these aspects of your path and your relationship to them. glad you found your teacher and that you were ready for that engagement.
I’ve often thought about how I need to take the present moment much more seriously, but I need to laugh off life in general. Maybe I need more Jaguars staring me down!
“The humanities represent the accumulated wisdom of history’s greatest thinkers grappling with what it means to be human, and yet most of us don’t make time to commune with even one of them.”
This was me until about 5 years ago. Something in my brain just clicked and I made a decision to read more (at least 6 books a year) and to be in control of my decision rather than continuing to fall into things like a college major or a job. AND I decided to start going back to church. I’d made excuses about not going because of moving or work or whatever but even that small dedication of an hour a week seemed to reorient me to what is real and true. AND at some point it made me aware that Christ was there with a purpose for me all along; to go and make disciples for his kingdom. I have my beautiful idiosyncrasies and all that but, as a Christian, we’ve all been given the same commission. Actions on that will look different for everyone but our goal of living for Christ ought to be the same.
That's beautiful Derek. I'm glad that the switch flipped for you, much like it did for me. My wife bemoans how many books I've bought since that jaguar and friends wonder about the hours spent in meditation, on retreats, and sitting with spiritual teachers trying to understand truth in this life. I don't know that I've found it in my church, as someone who wasn't raised in the faith, but I do appreciate wanting to live for something more than us, the truth that Christ tried to bring into the world. It's something I try to embody myself as an example and explore through my writing.
I'm so glad you found this path. Or refound. Great to be on the journey with you.
To think at Valley Forge, when George Washington put on a play about Cato the Younger, privates in the continental army, battered by unceasing seasons of battle, knew not only the famous Roman statesman but the book he carried to his grave: Phaedo.
I enjoyed how you threaded this story together. Keep us posted on the jaguar.
I really appreciate you sharing these aspects of your path and your relationship to them. glad you found your teacher and that you were ready for that engagement.
Powerful Latham. Brought back memories of a near-death experience I had as a young man while on psilocybin. Earth-shattering.
"I didn't want to become a business; I wanted to build a life." Wow that rings so true.
I'm also curious to know now what dog eared book you would have taken with you to the depths of that cave.
I’ve often thought about how I need to take the present moment much more seriously, but I need to laugh off life in general. Maybe I need more Jaguars staring me down!
“The humanities represent the accumulated wisdom of history’s greatest thinkers grappling with what it means to be human, and yet most of us don’t make time to commune with even one of them.”
This was me until about 5 years ago. Something in my brain just clicked and I made a decision to read more (at least 6 books a year) and to be in control of my decision rather than continuing to fall into things like a college major or a job. AND I decided to start going back to church. I’d made excuses about not going because of moving or work or whatever but even that small dedication of an hour a week seemed to reorient me to what is real and true. AND at some point it made me aware that Christ was there with a purpose for me all along; to go and make disciples for his kingdom. I have my beautiful idiosyncrasies and all that but, as a Christian, we’ve all been given the same commission. Actions on that will look different for everyone but our goal of living for Christ ought to be the same.
That's beautiful Derek. I'm glad that the switch flipped for you, much like it did for me. My wife bemoans how many books I've bought since that jaguar and friends wonder about the hours spent in meditation, on retreats, and sitting with spiritual teachers trying to understand truth in this life. I don't know that I've found it in my church, as someone who wasn't raised in the faith, but I do appreciate wanting to live for something more than us, the truth that Christ tried to bring into the world. It's something I try to embody myself as an example and explore through my writing.
I'm so glad you found this path. Or refound. Great to be on the journey with you.