January 18, 2006
-
Well, in case you fellow nocturnal creatures of AIM hadn’t noticed, my computer is having problems. In fact, my computer has so many problems it is more flawed than Communism, the BCS, High School Dating, and Michael Jackson. Combined.
This is post is my momentary gasp for air while drowning in the jumbled enigma of my AP Euro textbook. So far through the day I have been traveling through the book at a steady rate of 50 years/hour.
But hey! There is still hope. For a media arts project we have to make a film of a metaphor and I am excited about what the blob of gray mush in my head might concoct.
You know, from my own experiences, I think life is very easy to figure out. I mean, the fundamental concepts are quite abstract. One of my favorite Switchfoot songs (well, they’re all my favorite) is “Living is Simple.”
But the key thing is this: simple is not a synonym of easy. Love is a very simple thing. Very easily defined and explained in terms of what we do. But is it easy? Well, let’s just say my AP Euro GPA is significantly better than my Love GPA. Another example: Humility. What a simple thing. Yet, I do believe it is one of the very hardest tasks that man can undertake. Emptying oneself of selfish ambition to make room for God’s will is not something done by the casual hope of a man. In fact, it’s so hard, I don’t even know what these gigantic tasks entail. So violent are the forces that compel me away from these virtues that I can only use the virtue of Hope to see them take full force in my life one day.
There’s a thought for your taking. It’s really an incomplete thought, so give me 2 eProps and then think that one over some more.
Edit: Ok, so perhaps I need to expound on this a league further? I never made the statement “Life is simple.” I alluded to a song I enjoyed, but that connection was loose and almost unrelated to the actual motif of my post. If I had a thesis for this post it would be “Although life is challenging, the paradigm of the premises that lay the foundation for decision-making in life is prevalently recognized.” That is, we all know of virtue. Virtue is simple, no? Thus, it is not that life does not bend and play tricks on us, but that the tools and mechanics we use to conquer dilemmas aren’t very tough to choose. God gives us the tools, but execution is no child’s play, thus we need God’s help again (when putting to practice God’s very own tools he assigns us). The cycle repeats and that is what a God-dependent life comes to be: a mere reliance on that which we cannot see to accomplish that which we can see. That is how God becomes a visible force in the world, although retaining an invisible nature.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot (whose movie is coming out!)
This night is finite so why not have a fine night?
Back to the beautful realm of European history. Yay!
Comments (10)
I LOVE C.S Lewis; he’s amazing!!!
Ok first off Phil, it’s on
Second, I tend to disagree with the statement “Life is Simple”. Looks to me like you proved that wrong with your own reasoning trying to prove your point. While, as you say, things like love are simple to, but not easy, So then, what’s life? Life is both knowing and doing, therefor, by your own definition, life is not simple.
Score: The Internet At Daybreak 1, The Internet At Midnight 0
good luck on euro phil!!!! first watch today??? eh eh?
hey Phil!
not gonna lie, kinda confused on this one. Especially after “But the key thing is this:”
Well, I would have to go with Phil on this issue and the debate, persay, with Alex. Instead of proving Phil wrong you pretty much emphasised his points. Life is simple and Phil was explaining that but it is still terribly hard and confusing. Simple does not mean easy. When you narrow life down we are here for one decision and all others should reflect that decision. That is quite simple but not easy. Life is simple but terribly confusing. A very nice paradox.
God Bless
Kevin
o yeah nice comparison with your computer and such lol
why can’t you and alex just get along?
Phil, once again your words are well put and well met.
oh phil. you and rachel are just so darn good at directions!! : )
cya tonight
i think kait is making fun of your directional skills good sir philip…also – you might beware of alex’s xanga header “the internet at daybreak.” either he is ripping you off or he likes you. i think he likes you.