Digest: Apr-Jun

Here’s some of the posts that you may have missed from the second quarter of 2012. These are among my favorites from this time period. Which ones have you enjoyed? Feel free to comment below, and use the buttons at the bottom of each post to pass them along to others who might enjoy them.

My big project is that I have launched a second blog: 2yearsofpsalms.wordpress.com. I’ll be posting there regularly, but I am planning to contribute posting to this site as well.

If you’ve been reading for some time, you may enjoy my Silhouette page, an outline of who I am based upon what I’ve revealed and admitted to in this blog.

I have added a few albums to my online photo gallery.

I occasionally added to my Writings page, an archive of poetry, short stories, and essays.

If you’re new, you may want to look back at older posts: Digest: Aug-Sept & Digest: Oct-Dec & Digest: Jan-Mar

Excruciating (Apr 5) > a reflection on Good Friday

Conformity or Community? (Apr 12) > our motivations for going with the crowd

May Our Thoughts Be With You! (Apr 13) > the promise of prayer?

Have You Got a Family? (Apr 16) > childlessness is confusing…to others

Redeeming Guilt (Apr 22) > an opening to repentance

Retirement (Apr 23) > now what?

Faith is a Skill (Apr 26) > learn to wield it well!

Insatiable (Apr 28) > habit hunger never ceases

Punishing Rain (May 2) > challenges are coming

Goal!!! (?) (May 10) > the impetus of internal drive

You Practice Like You Prepare (May 15) > when does preparation become the real thing?

When Negative is Positive (May 23) > the judgment of life

Blessed to be a Blessing (May 31) > given to, that I may give

Good Job? (June 6) > my amazing skill at prayer

Get Well Soon? (June 18) > choosing to respond rightly to life’s circumstances

Simplicity (June 26) > the struggle for freedom

A Bright Idea? (June 28) >is variety a virtue?

 

What’s the Story?

I love fairytales and mythology. I have quite a collection of books containing these central stories from cultures around the world and across time. I love experiencing the oft-retold explanations for why life is the way it is, why things happen in nature, why certain people are regarded as heroes, why we should behave in certain ways.

There’s one problem, however, that I often encounter as I peruse my books.

Which of the re-tellings is the right one? Which rendition of the fairytale or myth is the true (original?) one? What’s the story?

I recently saw the 2011 film Thor. It’s based upon a comic book (which I never read). It was entertaining, but I found myself asking: is this the story of Thor, the Norse god of thunder who wields an obscenely large hammer? I’m not even sure how much the movie aligns with the comic book version, much less the “real” viking mythology.

I’ve realized that what I’m looking for is the “authoritative” version of the story. I want to know who Thor (or Achilles or even The Little Mermaid) really are–despite the fact that they’re fictional characters.

Unfortunately, since it is fiction, people tend to take their liberties when composing a presentation of a particular character, which means that getting to the “official” version is pretty difficult–especially when many of these myths were first birthed as oral traditions.

All of this gives me some insight into why I appreciate reading the Bible. While some critics would like to see even more external corroboration of the stories (especially the Old Testament narratives), I really like that the accounts in the Bible are generally the only versions that we have (granted there are other parallel stories of Noah-like floods and such).

Although I believe the Bible stories to be true (not fictional), even when dealing with history, it can still sometimes be difficult to get at the real story. What actually happened? What’s the official version? I’ve recently grown in my enjoyment of reading history–despite it sometimes being hit-and-miss (The Forge of Christendom was excellent; A History of Wales was laborious). But so much of the reporting of history is speculation about what might have been done, said, or even thought.

Of course, the inability to get to the original story isn’t going to stop me from reading fairytales, mythologies, or other works of fiction, but it does give me an extra special pleasure and security during my times reading the Bible. With confidence that I have the authoritative version, I can really dive in and own the story.

So, what’s the Story? It’s nice, every once in a while, to be able to say, “Here it is.”

 

 

Digest: Jan-Mar

Here’s some of the posts that you may have missed from the first part of 2012. These are among my favorites from this time period. Which ones have you enjoyed? Feel free to comment below, and use the buttons at the bottom of each post to pass them along to others who might enjoy them.

See also: Digest: Aug-Sept & Digest: Oct-Dec

During the month of January, I launched my online photo gallery.

I also continued to develop my Writings page, an archive of poetry, short stories, and essays.

A Culture of Returns (Jan 1) > no more caveat emptor!

Luxury or Life? (Jan 2) > the cost of eating out

The Serenity of Sunsets (Jan 4) > reflections of majesty

What am I? (Jan 5) > me and my qi

Not Kansas…But Where? (Jan 6) > home is where…my closet is?

A Dog’s Disobedience (Jan 12) > living in spite, hoping for mercy

Who Do You Play For? (Jan 16) > we’re all on a team…or should be

Without (Jan 21) > the meaning of freedom

Acquisition (Jan 23) > the mystery of hobby-shopping

Mr Smith Went Where? (Feb 7) > the distaste for democracy

Under a Rest (Feb 11) > work to rest or rest to work?

Success at 6 Takes 7 (Feb 16) > we must push ourselves beyond the goal

Mathematics for Faith (Feb 21) > God is sending me to school

Cherry Coke (Feb 27) > attaching worth to what’s hard to come by

First Gear (Mar 18) > that difficult first stage

Picked Up Along the Way (Mar 27) > the power of lasting hitchhikers…er, friendships

Overwhelmed (Mar 29) > my capacity to receive generosity

Thanks for reading!