"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which,if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations."
"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."
"It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. ..."
John what a wonderful CS Lewis quote and it says so much about our current condition and the importance of living with eternity in mind and what are eternal issues, and where to place our hope. The high calling of each individual is such an important idea and CS Lewis like Tokien seems to have written for our times. Thanks for sharing this quote which has stimulated me to go back to read some of Lewis' books and fictional writings. I suppose that as The Weight of Glory was written during WWII makes it resonant with some of the issues we are facing today.
Another superb analysis of our dark and troubled times. The good and ever-improving news is that we represent a community of decent, God-fearing, principled resistance. Consider the following: "The word karass, coined by Kurt Vonnegut, refers to a network or group of people that, unknown to them, are linked, specifically to fulfill the will of God. It is in these experiences where true beauty & wonder lies, even in our unawareness."
Good, honest humanity will win. In fact, it already has.
Thanks Tim - you are always encouraging and an optimist. That is so impressive when you can see the financial doom in front of us!
Thanks so much for the word "karass", which I first came across in Tanja Boness' substack a week ago or so and she explained that she had found the term courtesy of you. I like the idea very much and particularly that there is a group of people who are doing God's will in some mysterious way, without knowing it.
If you haven't seen the Australian film yet - The Castle - you must view it on a cold and damp UK weekend. Although the film is old I never tire of the themes and ultimately it is about karass. This word, as they say in The Castle, is "going straight to the pool room". I just found the full movie on YouTube and recommend viewing - https://youtu.be/tTA584iCoSU?si=2--PN_JrVF0gNq2h
Thanks Tanja - always good to hear from you. You will see in my response to Tim I have recommended the film The Castle. It is very Australian but captures some great truths about life and also "karass". You might enjoy viewing with your daughter. Best wishes from the Australian Snowy Mountains.
It reminds me of someone who recently told me the old shortening type oil used in fast foods will kill you, when defending the new vegetable oils used instead 😆
"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which,if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations."
"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."
"It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. ..."
The Weight of Glory
C S Lewis
John what a wonderful CS Lewis quote and it says so much about our current condition and the importance of living with eternity in mind and what are eternal issues, and where to place our hope. The high calling of each individual is such an important idea and CS Lewis like Tokien seems to have written for our times. Thanks for sharing this quote which has stimulated me to go back to read some of Lewis' books and fictional writings. I suppose that as The Weight of Glory was written during WWII makes it resonant with some of the issues we are facing today.
Another superb analysis of our dark and troubled times. The good and ever-improving news is that we represent a community of decent, God-fearing, principled resistance. Consider the following: "The word karass, coined by Kurt Vonnegut, refers to a network or group of people that, unknown to them, are linked, specifically to fulfill the will of God. It is in these experiences where true beauty & wonder lies, even in our unawareness."
Good, honest humanity will win. In fact, it already has.
Thanks Tim - you are always encouraging and an optimist. That is so impressive when you can see the financial doom in front of us!
Thanks so much for the word "karass", which I first came across in Tanja Boness' substack a week ago or so and she explained that she had found the term courtesy of you. I like the idea very much and particularly that there is a group of people who are doing God's will in some mysterious way, without knowing it.
If you haven't seen the Australian film yet - The Castle - you must view it on a cold and damp UK weekend. Although the film is old I never tire of the themes and ultimately it is about karass. This word, as they say in The Castle, is "going straight to the pool room". I just found the full movie on YouTube and recommend viewing - https://youtu.be/tTA584iCoSU?si=2--PN_JrVF0gNq2h
What a charming, funny, heart-warming film. Where has this film been all my life ?
"A cold and damp UK weekend." That's EVERY weekend ! Thanks for the film recommendation - will enjoy checking it out.
This is another brilliant must read, Reuben! You always manage to find the right tone and your analysis is spot on.
And on a side note, thanks for considering the hopelessly metric Europeans... wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Thanks Tanja - always good to hear from you. You will see in my response to Tim I have recommended the film The Castle. It is very Australian but captures some great truths about life and also "karass". You might enjoy viewing with your daughter. Best wishes from the Australian Snowy Mountains.
It reminds me of someone who recently told me the old shortening type oil used in fast foods will kill you, when defending the new vegetable oils used instead 😆