I turn(ed) 27 a month ago. Adding another number to my age total feels like progress. As someone who was formerly saturated in video games, I believe the feeling can be summed up as having level-ed up.
It is usual for progress to be tracked in terms of increase: more years, career growth, having a relationship/family, etc. This births the apparent want for more. There should be no surprise that the "creating a need" scheme works well in the marketing scene, and even beyond that. Since "more" connotes development, it is but logical for people to pursue it.
But, what if life was ultimately defined by a decrease? What if to actually increase, one must diminish? This might not sit well with many, Christians notwithstanding. The way people understand progress is about acquisition and addition, be it virtue or material thing. It is never letting things go. This gives way to what I believe to be the most offending paradox in all of Scripture, Jesus speaking (Luke 9:24-25), "whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses it for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains and loses or forfeits himself?" This clearly resonates with John the Baptizer (John 3:30): "He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease." What indeed is the profit of gain if the result is actually the opposite: loss? While I am totally neglecting a resolution to talk less of myself, this might be of some benefit. To myself, more or less.
Personally I have conjured a list of things to do for the year, some of which are exciting like brushing up on my Nihongo, learning how to drive, and possibly travel overseas. Additions are either good or bad, depending on what it is and what it is for. But I have observed that any sort of addition or increase has been the goal for most of us, almost without discrimination. Just because you can, does not necessarily follow that you should.
Showing posts with label Resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resolutions. Show all posts
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Resolve
Borrowed from Jonathan Edwards. And hopefully to be resolved, that I may indeed be alive and awake. It is terribly frightening, to feign affections for the Savior and to be, in reality, hard of heart.
A clean slate. This is what this day is about. This is the day of resolutions, most of which will remain as mere sentiments. This day has nothing special about it. It does not give any person special strengths to perform their new resolution for the year. Like anything we ever speak of doing: easier said than done. I do not mean to be pessimistic, but that is just the case. And I am not against having resolutions. I have them and construct new ones whenever necessary. It is a guide in the important activity of self-examination. January 1 is as good as any day to make necessary resolutions. What's important is the heart, the mindset and the actual application of such resolutions.
First day of the new year equals new beginnings. It is as if yesterday was an entirely different dimension: we have transcended, and never going back. I am gearing to resolve in myself many things. There are manners and matters from the previous year that remain unresolved. I find Mr. Edwards' resolution of particular interest. But in all this should come a very needful reminder: "being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help" and that all things are for Christ's sake.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Mental Habits
I have been reading the first volume of the Works of Jonathan Edwards on my Kindle. It's a big volume which is why it is a nuisance that it is not properly indexed and formatted. The hard copy of this volume has over a 1000 pages. It runs for about 300000 pages on the Kindle. I was thinking of reading specific chapters, but I have to find them one by one. This slight nuisance led me to read the earlier chapters which include Mr. Edwards' childhood and early training. In chapter two, the author elaborated Mr. Edwards exceptional capabilities and mental habits.
The author noted that Jonathan Edwards possessed an exceptional mind, excited by almost anything especially that relating to nature. He enjoyed meditating outdoors where he is in clear view of God's creation. Since I know that I am far from having Jonathan Edwards' capabilities, I decided to learn, if any, something that I would be able to imitate in a realistic way.
Mr. Edwards, the author said, always had a pen in his hand. The aim was not to copy other's thoughts but to render and preserve his own thoughts about the subject he was engaging at present. He was never without pen and paper. This discipline was something Mr. Edwards started practicing at a young age. It is no wonder how coherent and elaborate his works are, most especially his sermons. He nurtured healthy mental habits with the aim of properly dissecting the subjects that were pressed into his mind. He found thinking and reasoning as enjoyment, rather than labor. Let us pause to think that this is rarely the case now. Many people will learn well from Mr. Edwards. The author closes his elaboration on Edwards' mental habits with this:
"In this view of the subject, when we remember how few students comparatively, from want of this mental discipline, think at all; how few of those who think at all, think habitually; how few of those who think habitually, think to purpose; and how few of those who think to purpose, attain to the fulness of the measure of the stature, to which, as thinking beings, they might have attained; it will not I think be doubted, that the practice in question was the principal means of the ultimate development of his [Edwards'] mental superiority."
As far as healthy mental habits go, I admit that I am a novice. My thoughts have a great tendency derail at a certain point I know not where. But they do, and it is telling of how I easily succumb to distraction. Also, I usually find it hard to continue unless I noted the gist down. It's a work in much need of progress. But I think this present rekindling of my fondness for writing veers me in the proper direction. On my part, my aim is to properly articulate something that is dear or interesting to me. I hope to be coherent in my thoughts, however light the subject is. Writing about a bus ride is an example.
It might go without saying but to clarify again: my aim personally is to not be a Jonathan Edwards. An impossible task, no less. No one can repeat what he has done for the church of God and his body of work that remain an edification for believers. What he had was a special gift. What I would love is to imitate his practice of focused, habitual, systematic thinking. As rational beings I think we have no aim but such. However people differ in their capacity for thinking, I believe no one would argue against the habit of coherent thinking. Without such, how are we to communicate? How are we to properly articulate something without properly considering subjects thoroughly? It is easy to get lost in translation. It takes time and effort but the fruit is well worth it.
Postscript: Jonathan Edwards always had a pen and a piece of paper in hand. When heading outdoors for meditation and thought, he placed pieces of paper inside his jacket so that he can easily write a thought down. In this present day of modern technology, pen and paper still exist. But my common practice now with remembering thoughts is constructing a note quickly on my phone. The wonders of technology! The dictionary/autospell (sounds like a video game skill) function is very, very helpful in this regard. I have had occasions of waking up early in the morning and being consumed by a question or a realization. Mostly though, it happens while I am walking. But my best thoughts are those when I am in the shower. I find that the shower is the most effective in getting me focused and relaxed. If only my phone was waterproof.
The author noted that Jonathan Edwards possessed an exceptional mind, excited by almost anything especially that relating to nature. He enjoyed meditating outdoors where he is in clear view of God's creation. Since I know that I am far from having Jonathan Edwards' capabilities, I decided to learn, if any, something that I would be able to imitate in a realistic way.
Mr. Edwards, the author said, always had a pen in his hand. The aim was not to copy other's thoughts but to render and preserve his own thoughts about the subject he was engaging at present. He was never without pen and paper. This discipline was something Mr. Edwards started practicing at a young age. It is no wonder how coherent and elaborate his works are, most especially his sermons. He nurtured healthy mental habits with the aim of properly dissecting the subjects that were pressed into his mind. He found thinking and reasoning as enjoyment, rather than labor. Let us pause to think that this is rarely the case now. Many people will learn well from Mr. Edwards. The author closes his elaboration on Edwards' mental habits with this:"In this view of the subject, when we remember how few students comparatively, from want of this mental discipline, think at all; how few of those who think at all, think habitually; how few of those who think habitually, think to purpose; and how few of those who think to purpose, attain to the fulness of the measure of the stature, to which, as thinking beings, they might have attained; it will not I think be doubted, that the practice in question was the principal means of the ultimate development of his [Edwards'] mental superiority."
As far as healthy mental habits go, I admit that I am a novice. My thoughts have a great tendency derail at a certain point I know not where. But they do, and it is telling of how I easily succumb to distraction. Also, I usually find it hard to continue unless I noted the gist down. It's a work in much need of progress. But I think this present rekindling of my fondness for writing veers me in the proper direction. On my part, my aim is to properly articulate something that is dear or interesting to me. I hope to be coherent in my thoughts, however light the subject is. Writing about a bus ride is an example.
It might go without saying but to clarify again: my aim personally is to not be a Jonathan Edwards. An impossible task, no less. No one can repeat what he has done for the church of God and his body of work that remain an edification for believers. What he had was a special gift. What I would love is to imitate his practice of focused, habitual, systematic thinking. As rational beings I think we have no aim but such. However people differ in their capacity for thinking, I believe no one would argue against the habit of coherent thinking. Without such, how are we to communicate? How are we to properly articulate something without properly considering subjects thoroughly? It is easy to get lost in translation. It takes time and effort but the fruit is well worth it.
Postscript: Jonathan Edwards always had a pen and a piece of paper in hand. When heading outdoors for meditation and thought, he placed pieces of paper inside his jacket so that he can easily write a thought down. In this present day of modern technology, pen and paper still exist. But my common practice now with remembering thoughts is constructing a note quickly on my phone. The wonders of technology! The dictionary/autospell (sounds like a video game skill) function is very, very helpful in this regard. I have had occasions of waking up early in the morning and being consumed by a question or a realization. Mostly though, it happens while I am walking. But my best thoughts are those when I am in the shower. I find that the shower is the most effective in getting me focused and relaxed. If only my phone was waterproof.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Life Resolution
"Can we live to be forgotten so that Christ may be remembered?"
This quote is actually borrowed from a friend, who commented the exact same statement a few years ago in one of my old blogs. At that time, I probably was amazed to have read something like this, since I like profound statements. But for sure, I gave it too little thought.
Considering the things I've been through and desire to do, this statement is now my life resolution. I am to compel every thought, desire and act captive to Christ for the glory of God.
Having this resolution shows the truth I haven't been always true or consistent to what it entails. I've had great ambitions for my life, even after being converted to Christ. I wanted to write books, speak at conferences, etc. While not necessarily (and it is not) bad, my intention was not exactly godly: I wanted to be remembered. I wanted to be known. Where's the fun in not being acknowledged? O but the praise of man is like the treasures of Egypt. Greater treasure is the reproach of Christ! (Heb. 11:26) But it is a still daily battle.
I am aware that association with Christ nowadays leads to confusion, rather than clarity. So to expound on my resolution I refer to another quote:
"Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten." – Count Zinzendorf
To preach the gospel, and not be ashamed of it, is for Christ to be remembered. It is a message not of my own. It is even a message that disturbs: to some the smell of death, to others the fragrance of life. But to exert all thought and effort to that aim, I am convinced that I can die happily forgotten.
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