3-R Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving!

Ruminations, Reflections, Readings every Thursday at 3:33pm

Rumination

I came across the term "acedia" this week in More Than a Battle. It's definition is more akin to a philosophical concept than a literal translation. Spiritual sluggishness seems like a worthy placeholder for now. The "noonday demon" that visits, rendering any serious spiritual discipline meaningless. Why do I need to read? What's the point of work? I don't feel like doing X or getting through Y.  More study on this concept is needed. Prof. Markos recommended a few writers to start with, including Leisure: the Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper — a book which I not only had in my library, I knew exactly where it was. Thank you, brain. This was a book I read in college. I love when patterns complete themselves. 

Reflection

Both boys are in the hospital. Respiratory viruses. Oxygen needed. Monitors beeping. Nurses coming and going. Wires everywhere. Why are there so many wires? O2 levels, heart rate, respiratory rate, heart rate, IV, forced oxygen. Is there a better way? Is this "modern medicine"? What would we have done 50 years ago? 100? 200? How has human life persists in spite of the diseases of this world? God is good. He is gracious with His creation. Praise His glorious name; I say it again, "Praise His glorious name." The earth is filled with his majesty. 

We are incredibly thankful for our family and friends. We have a whole community around us, lifting up prayers for the boys and for us. The nurses and staff have been exceptionally kind during this difficult time. We will always remember this Thanksgiving. 

Reading

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Paul's Letter to the Galatians (Ch. 3)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 

Paul's Letter to the Galatians (Ch. 5)

 "imaginary audience" 

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday (p. 70)

materiam superabat opus (the workmanship was better than the material)

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday ( p. 82)

 To perceive all that is unusual and exceptional, all that is wonderful in the midst of the ordinary things of everyday life, is the beginning of philosophy. . . . 'to be a stranger in the world' is their occupational disease (though of course there could no more be a professional philosopher than there could be a professional poet—for as we said, man cannot live permanently at such heights.

Leisure: The Basis of Culture; The Philosophical Act by Josef Pieper (p. 113)

Have a blessed week!

CFW

 Then I said to them, 'You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.' And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise up and build.' So they strengthened their hands for the good work."

Nehemiah 2: 17-18