I recently began reading an Agatha Christie mystery novel entitled Ordeal by Innocence.Two years prior to the beginning of the story, a man named Jack Argyle was sentenced to life in prison fo killing his adoptive mother, Rachel Argyle. The evidence against Jack was sure and uncontroversial, despite Jack's insistent protests that he hadn't committed the crime. On the night his mother was murdered, Jack came to her home at about six in the evening and demanded that she give him money to get Jack out of some kind of trouble he had gotten him into. Mrs. Argyle refused. Jack immediately became angry and threatening toward his mother. Jack eventually left the house in a rage. At 7:30 that same evening, Mrs. Argyle was struck and killed with a fireplace poker. The police found Jack's fingerprints on the poker and a large quantity of money missing from Mrs. Argyle's bureau drawer. Jack was later picked up by the police in a town called Drymouth. A great amount of cash was found on his person, which was later traced back to Mrs. Argyle. Jack was charged with wilful murder. Jack claimed he had an alibi for the period of time it was believed his mother had been killed, sometime between seven and seven-thirty. Jack claimed during that time he had been hitchhiking and been picked up by a middle-aged man in a black or dark blue saloon car on the road to Drymouth. The police did everything humanly possible to find the vehicle and its driver, but Jack's alibi couldn't be confirmed. Jack was sentenced to life in prison and died of pneumonia six months later.
Some two years after these events occured, a geophysicist named Dr. Arthur Calgary approached the Argyle family claiming that he had been the middle-aged man who picked up Jack Argyle on the road to Drymouth, literally confirming Jack's alibi for the time period during which Mrs. Argyle was believed to have been murdered. Calgary told the family that after he dropped Jack off at Drymouth he went to London and waited for the train he supposed to catch. However, while crossing a street, he was hit by a streetcar. Although Calgary appeared to be fine during the initial minutes after the accident, by the time his train arrived
he was unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital. When he regained conscionsness a few days later, Calgary could remember nothing of the last twenty-four or so, including picking Jack up on the road the Drymouth. Having no reason to believe that anything important occured during the missing hours of his life, Calgary was not concerned about this partial amnesia. During his recovery at the hospital, Calgary had no contact with the outside world, and, therefore, did not learn of the Argyle murder. Following his recovery, Calgary left England to prepare for an expedition to the Antarctic, which kept him busy enough he never heard of the Argyle murder. It wasn't until Calgary returned to England about a month prior to the start of the story that he learned of Rachel Argyle's murder and Jack Argyle's conviction of the crime, and remembered the part he unknowingly played in the situation. He saw Jack's photo in a newspaper and thought he looked familiar. After he read the paragraph that detailed the events surrounding the murder, Calgary suddenly remembered that he picked Jack Argyle up on the road Drymouth. After he researched the murder to make sure his recently recovered memory collaborated with the facts of the case, Calgary went to Jack's former attorney, from whom he learned he too late to rescue Jack, who died in prison two years before. However, the case was being laid before the Public Prosecutor and it was likely that in no time at all, Jack's conviction would be overturned. Feeling responsible for unknowingly allowing Jack to go to prison for crime he hadn't committed, Calgary went to the family and explained his role in situation. The Argyle family was hardly pleased or relieved to learn of Jack's innocence. Jack had an awful temper and was mentally unstable. Although this mental unstability wasn't of the kind that could have gotten Jack anything less than a life sentence, it was enough that it allowed the Argyles to believe that, while Jack was guilty, he wasn't responsible for actions. This belief allowed the family to resign themselves to Jack's imprisonment. But now this recent discovery of Jack's innocence stirs up not only the murder case but also turmoil within family; since Mrs. Argyle was killed inside her own home then that means her killer was either a family inside the house at the time or someone she willingly allowed into her home. The ultimate question of Ordeal by Innocence is this: if Jack Argyle didn't kill Rachel Argyle who did?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
My Interpretation of "The Traveling Onion"
This poem by Naomi Shihab Nye is about an onion. The author comtemplates the importance and beauty of the onion and the fact that it is often overlooked and forgotten. Of the onion she says, "crackly paper peeling on the drainboard, pearly layers in smooth agreement, the way knife enters onion and onion falls
apart on the chopping block." In these lines Nye is describing the onion in an admiring, dreamlike fashion,
indicating the fact that she holds great respect for this particular vegetable.
At first, it appears that the only way to interpret this poem is as a praise to the onion. However, The Traveling Onion is a deceptively simple work, or a work that appears simple to understand on the surface but in reality has a deeper meaning that has to be searched out. The poem needs to be seriously interpreted in order to discover even just a single meaning that may be hidden behind the obvious one. The phrase at the end of the first stanza, "and onion falls apart on the chopping block, a history revealed, " doesn't quite make sense. What history is "revealed" and why does the onion coming apart have anything to do with its history? There are other phrases in this poem that are just as complex and, therefore, one needs to make a valiant attempt to interpret the poem.
To me, this poem seems to be communicating the fact that some of the most important things and people of this world frequently go unnoticed. They perform a special or needed work in our society but rarely are acknowledged with the recognition they deserve. I draw this conclusion from the phrase, "I could kneel
and praise all small forgotten miracles." These "miracles" are most likely not the supernatural kind that we're
so familiar with. More than likely these miracles are the everyday things we take for granted: the laughter of
children, a cool summer day, a convicting chapel sermon, the knowledge found in God's Word. All these and
more could be classified as the "small forgotten miracles" that Nye is referring to. They are apart of our everyday existence and add something special to our world, but they frequently go unnoticed or, if noticed, don't receive the appreciation they deserve.
The onion, the central object in this poem, is both a representative of the unnoticed and an unnoticed object itself. Many of us eat onions on a regular basis in some form but rarely, if ever, think about or consider them in any real depth. It adds flavor and a kick to various foods, such as soup, but unless it's an onion dish, most people probably don't pay attention to this vegetable. Nye says, "How at meal, we sit to eat, commenting on
texture of meat or herbal aroma but never on the translucence of onion." Here, she openly acknowledges the fact that while other foods receive the benefit of compliments and recognization, the onion is not discussed.
In the second stanza Nye says "It is right that tears fall for something small and forgotten." Nye is speaking of the onion but it's very possible that she could also mean something more. The pungent smell of onions does cause one's eyes to well, however, the first half of the phrase, "It is right that tears fall," doesn't seem to be conducive with this fact. As forgotten as the onion might be, it isn't so important that someone would shed
tears over it. For it to be "right" for someone to cry over something it has to be something extremely important. Therefore, the tears must be for sadness or grief over the lose of something more important than an onion. The second half of the phrase, "for something small and forgotten," is also speaking of the onion.
However, one can make the conjecture that these lines might have a deeper meaning. Yes, the onion may be small and forgotten, but so are the disabled, so are the sick. The onion, as well as being unnoticed itself, might also be a representative of other unnoticed things.
So, why should any of this matter to you? It matters to you, and to me, because all of us, at one time or another, have experienced the pain of going unnoticed or unappreciated by those around us. We've operated
on the fringes of society while people take little or no notice of us. We've done nice things for other people
and were offered inadequate gratitude, or worse, none at all. What's more, we've acted that way toward other people. We deliberately avoid them or find ways to get out of interacting with them. We see the elderly man at the store who needs help and turn away. A loved one needs talk to us about something important and we refuse to acknowledge them. My interpretation of The Traveling Onion matters because it grabs the essence of the poem: The fact that we oftentimes ignore, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the things and people that should be the most regarded by us. The poem itself is insightful because it uses an ordinary item to explain a great truth. Like I said earlier, most people don't take notice of onions. They add flavor to a
variety of foods but don't receive much recognition because their filmy, transparent substance causes them to almost disappear and be superseded by whatever else is in the dish. Therefore, since we don't see the onion
we can't comphrend its worth in the overall dish.
apart on the chopping block." In these lines Nye is describing the onion in an admiring, dreamlike fashion,
indicating the fact that she holds great respect for this particular vegetable.
At first, it appears that the only way to interpret this poem is as a praise to the onion. However, The Traveling Onion is a deceptively simple work, or a work that appears simple to understand on the surface but in reality has a deeper meaning that has to be searched out. The poem needs to be seriously interpreted in order to discover even just a single meaning that may be hidden behind the obvious one. The phrase at the end of the first stanza, "and onion falls apart on the chopping block, a history revealed, " doesn't quite make sense. What history is "revealed" and why does the onion coming apart have anything to do with its history? There are other phrases in this poem that are just as complex and, therefore, one needs to make a valiant attempt to interpret the poem.
To me, this poem seems to be communicating the fact that some of the most important things and people of this world frequently go unnoticed. They perform a special or needed work in our society but rarely are acknowledged with the recognition they deserve. I draw this conclusion from the phrase, "I could kneel
and praise all small forgotten miracles." These "miracles" are most likely not the supernatural kind that we're
so familiar with. More than likely these miracles are the everyday things we take for granted: the laughter of
children, a cool summer day, a convicting chapel sermon, the knowledge found in God's Word. All these and
more could be classified as the "small forgotten miracles" that Nye is referring to. They are apart of our everyday existence and add something special to our world, but they frequently go unnoticed or, if noticed, don't receive the appreciation they deserve.
The onion, the central object in this poem, is both a representative of the unnoticed and an unnoticed object itself. Many of us eat onions on a regular basis in some form but rarely, if ever, think about or consider them in any real depth. It adds flavor and a kick to various foods, such as soup, but unless it's an onion dish, most people probably don't pay attention to this vegetable. Nye says, "How at meal, we sit to eat, commenting on
texture of meat or herbal aroma but never on the translucence of onion." Here, she openly acknowledges the fact that while other foods receive the benefit of compliments and recognization, the onion is not discussed.
In the second stanza Nye says "It is right that tears fall for something small and forgotten." Nye is speaking of the onion but it's very possible that she could also mean something more. The pungent smell of onions does cause one's eyes to well, however, the first half of the phrase, "It is right that tears fall," doesn't seem to be conducive with this fact. As forgotten as the onion might be, it isn't so important that someone would shed
tears over it. For it to be "right" for someone to cry over something it has to be something extremely important. Therefore, the tears must be for sadness or grief over the lose of something more important than an onion. The second half of the phrase, "for something small and forgotten," is also speaking of the onion.
However, one can make the conjecture that these lines might have a deeper meaning. Yes, the onion may be small and forgotten, but so are the disabled, so are the sick. The onion, as well as being unnoticed itself, might also be a representative of other unnoticed things.
So, why should any of this matter to you? It matters to you, and to me, because all of us, at one time or another, have experienced the pain of going unnoticed or unappreciated by those around us. We've operated
on the fringes of society while people take little or no notice of us. We've done nice things for other people
and were offered inadequate gratitude, or worse, none at all. What's more, we've acted that way toward other people. We deliberately avoid them or find ways to get out of interacting with them. We see the elderly man at the store who needs help and turn away. A loved one needs talk to us about something important and we refuse to acknowledge them. My interpretation of The Traveling Onion matters because it grabs the essence of the poem: The fact that we oftentimes ignore, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the things and people that should be the most regarded by us. The poem itself is insightful because it uses an ordinary item to explain a great truth. Like I said earlier, most people don't take notice of onions. They add flavor to a
variety of foods but don't receive much recognition because their filmy, transparent substance causes them to almost disappear and be superseded by whatever else is in the dish. Therefore, since we don't see the onion
we can't comphrend its worth in the overall dish.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Imago Dei
What does imago dei mean? Well, Imago is the Latin term for image. Dei is Latin for God. Therefore, imago dei literally means the image of God. But what, exactly, does it mean to be in the "image of God?"
Does it simply mean that we physically look like God, having two arms, two legs, a nose, etc? Or does it
mean that we display some of God's personality traits, such as love, gentleness, and creativity? If the second
definition is true then that means that everyone-from the criminals in your local prison to the Good Samaritian worker-are made in the image of God, having displayed some level of the personal attributes of God. However, there is a complication in that belief. We believe that God is loving. So if we are made in His image
then why we do oftentimes act in unloving ways? Is it because we have somehow detracted from or thrown off any plans of acting like we are made in God's image to do our own thing? Or is possible that God is not loving, and therefore could not create beings capable love? But if so, then where did such people as Mother Theresa get their love and compassion for hurting individuals?
In his essay, Steven Fettke deals with this concept of imago dei but from a completely different angle. Instead asking how the image of a loving God can exist in the immoral human race, he asks how the image
of God imprints itself on the human race. In other words, in what way does the image of God appear in everyday life? Eichrodt claims, "For man (sic) to be created in the likeness of God's image can only mean that on him, too, personhood is bestowed as the definitive characteristic of his nature (3)." Fettke relates
this concept to the mentally challenged. It is difficult to pin down exactly how the mentally challenged are made in God's image because we generally can't get past their problems and needs to see the true person. Fettke believes that this is one of the issues within the church community; many of them are stuck in the belief that because the mentally challenged can't contribute to the community or can't overcome their disability the way the community believes they should, they are not worth the time or effort.
Does it simply mean that we physically look like God, having two arms, two legs, a nose, etc? Or does it
mean that we display some of God's personality traits, such as love, gentleness, and creativity? If the second
definition is true then that means that everyone-from the criminals in your local prison to the Good Samaritian worker-are made in the image of God, having displayed some level of the personal attributes of God. However, there is a complication in that belief. We believe that God is loving. So if we are made in His image
then why we do oftentimes act in unloving ways? Is it because we have somehow detracted from or thrown off any plans of acting like we are made in God's image to do our own thing? Or is possible that God is not loving, and therefore could not create beings capable love? But if so, then where did such people as Mother Theresa get their love and compassion for hurting individuals?
In his essay, Steven Fettke deals with this concept of imago dei but from a completely different angle. Instead asking how the image of a loving God can exist in the immoral human race, he asks how the image
of God imprints itself on the human race. In other words, in what way does the image of God appear in everyday life? Eichrodt claims, "For man (sic) to be created in the likeness of God's image can only mean that on him, too, personhood is bestowed as the definitive characteristic of his nature (3)." Fettke relates
this concept to the mentally challenged. It is difficult to pin down exactly how the mentally challenged are made in God's image because we generally can't get past their problems and needs to see the true person. Fettke believes that this is one of the issues within the church community; many of them are stuck in the belief that because the mentally challenged can't contribute to the community or can't overcome their disability the way the community believes they should, they are not worth the time or effort.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Boys Next Door
This was an interesting play. It gave a very unbiased glimpse of what mentally challenged individuals have to deal with: day-to-day living in the world while knowing their disability prevents them from doing certain things, interacting with others who are mentally challenged and those who are not, and attempting to find their
niche in a society that doesn't quite understand them. We may consider the mentally challenged as being strange, retarded, and even stupid. But in reality they're ordinary people who have some of the same emotions as we do. Barry experiences sadness and fear when his father, in a fit of rage, hits him on the side of his head. Arnold is hurt when Jack loses his temper and yells at him.Lucien is nervous about going before the State Senate to convince them that he is not ready to leave his group home. Norman is in love with Sheila. All the guys become very upset when Jack informs them that he is leaving them and taking a job as a travel agent. The play ends sadly and poignantly. It's sad not only because Jack is leaving the guys but also because Barry, as a result of the incident with his father, has some type of breakdown and has to be sent to an institution. But the end is also poignant because even though Arnold tells Jack that he "hates" him, the last thing Arnold tells Jack before the play ends is: "Jack, and I emphasize this, you've got better behavior patterns than a lot of, I repeat, people" and the two men laugh (65). Go back to the end of the first act and read the part where Arnold tells Jack that his "behavior patterns are not one bit fun (33), " then read the first quote again, and I think you'll figure out why Arnold's comment to Jack at the end of the play is so important.
niche in a society that doesn't quite understand them. We may consider the mentally challenged as being strange, retarded, and even stupid. But in reality they're ordinary people who have some of the same emotions as we do. Barry experiences sadness and fear when his father, in a fit of rage, hits him on the side of his head. Arnold is hurt when Jack loses his temper and yells at him.Lucien is nervous about going before the State Senate to convince them that he is not ready to leave his group home. Norman is in love with Sheila. All the guys become very upset when Jack informs them that he is leaving them and taking a job as a travel agent. The play ends sadly and poignantly. It's sad not only because Jack is leaving the guys but also because Barry, as a result of the incident with his father, has some type of breakdown and has to be sent to an institution. But the end is also poignant because even though Arnold tells Jack that he "hates" him, the last thing Arnold tells Jack before the play ends is: "Jack, and I emphasize this, you've got better behavior patterns than a lot of, I repeat, people" and the two men laugh (65). Go back to the end of the first act and read the part where Arnold tells Jack that his "behavior patterns are not one bit fun (33), " then read the first quote again, and I think you'll figure out why Arnold's comment to Jack at the end of the play is so important.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Polk Museum
The Tampa Orchid
Two orchids. One gray against black,
the other blue against silver.
Constrasts. Like rich and poor,
darkness and light. What does
the contrast mean? I don't know.
Gray might be lifelessness and depression.
Blue might be vitality and life. Black could
represent darkness, silver light. Contrasts,
like black and white, strength and weakness.
Again, what does it mean? I don't know but
contrasts are wonderful things. How boring
the world would be if everything and everyone
were the same? Contrasts and differences give
the world spice and excitement. I believe God
meant it to be this way for He is a God of contrast:
human yet divine; loving but capable of righteous
anger. A God of contrasts, therefore, enjoys a world
of contrasts. But again, the tampa orchid, one gray
on black, the other blue on silver. What was the photographer's
purpose making it so? I am sure I do not know.
I went to the Polk Museum of Art for this assignment and stayed for at least forty minutes. The museum was a very interesting trip. I expected to only see paintings but I was surprised to see other things there as well. I looked at several Japanese kimonos, pieces of pottery, and bonsai trees as well as paintings. On the second floor I saw several photos that kept my attention for several minutes. Each photo depicted a family posing outside with their household items. Each family was from a different part of the world and most were of low economic status. Beside each photo was a plaque which included information about each family, such as how
many hours a week the parents worked and the family's most valuable possession. Reading these plaques made me rather sad. One family's plaque said they had no possessions of value, while another said they had no wishes for the future, probably because their economic situation was so bad the family didn't expect anything to elevate them even slightly. Two plaques stated that the family were their most valuable possession. These photos struck me because it made me realize anew that not everyone is so fortunate as to have a decent home or a nice car constantly at their disposal. It was good to see a glimpse of families who live outside America and to get a bit of history, of sorts, about other cultures. The photo of the tampa orchid, the subject of my "poem," was one of two works that caught my attention and which I kept returning to. The contrasting colors made a good effect on the overall work. The contrasting colors, in fact, was the detail that caused me write the "poem" about that particular work. I would have taken a picture of it and probably posted it on my blog if taking photos inside the museum hadn't been prohibited.
Two orchids. One gray against black,
the other blue against silver.
Constrasts. Like rich and poor,
darkness and light. What does
the contrast mean? I don't know.
Gray might be lifelessness and depression.
Blue might be vitality and life. Black could
represent darkness, silver light. Contrasts,
like black and white, strength and weakness.
Again, what does it mean? I don't know but
contrasts are wonderful things. How boring
the world would be if everything and everyone
were the same? Contrasts and differences give
the world spice and excitement. I believe God
meant it to be this way for He is a God of contrast:
human yet divine; loving but capable of righteous
anger. A God of contrasts, therefore, enjoys a world
of contrasts. But again, the tampa orchid, one gray
on black, the other blue on silver. What was the photographer's
purpose making it so? I am sure I do not know.
I went to the Polk Museum of Art for this assignment and stayed for at least forty minutes. The museum was a very interesting trip. I expected to only see paintings but I was surprised to see other things there as well. I looked at several Japanese kimonos, pieces of pottery, and bonsai trees as well as paintings. On the second floor I saw several photos that kept my attention for several minutes. Each photo depicted a family posing outside with their household items. Each family was from a different part of the world and most were of low economic status. Beside each photo was a plaque which included information about each family, such as how
many hours a week the parents worked and the family's most valuable possession. Reading these plaques made me rather sad. One family's plaque said they had no possessions of value, while another said they had no wishes for the future, probably because their economic situation was so bad the family didn't expect anything to elevate them even slightly. Two plaques stated that the family were their most valuable possession. These photos struck me because it made me realize anew that not everyone is so fortunate as to have a decent home or a nice car constantly at their disposal. It was good to see a glimpse of families who live outside America and to get a bit of history, of sorts, about other cultures. The photo of the tampa orchid, the subject of my "poem," was one of two works that caught my attention and which I kept returning to. The contrasting colors made a good effect on the overall work. The contrasting colors, in fact, was the detail that caused me write the "poem" about that particular work. I would have taken a picture of it and probably posted it on my blog if taking photos inside the museum hadn't been prohibited.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Reading for Transformation through the Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins
With this essay I took another sojourn into the wonderful world of lectio divina. The auther, Francis X. McAloon, told his inspiring story of using lectio for the poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins, an English Jesuit
priest of the nineteenth century. McAloon explains that during his year-long engagement with Hopkins' poetry he was able, through both lectio divina and other intellectual means, to interact with the texts on a spiritual level. By doing so, McAloon utilized the practice of "reading for transformation," which, according
to Sandra Schneiders goes "beyond simply discovering what the text says to asking if what it says is true, and if so in what sense, and what the personal consequences for the reader and others might be."
This pratice can apply to a number of texts from the Bible to the Qu'ran, from Hopkins' poetry to science fiction. No matter the literary text, reading for transformation is very important. You shouldn't just read the text, you should really think about and consider whether or the not the text is true and if so how, and what you, as the reader, might be required to do about it. This kind of reading can be very difficult. It requires you to step away from your comfort zone and explore thoughts and ideas that you may have never considered before. Those new thoughts and ideas will challenge how you viewed the world previous to uncovering this new knowledge. Then you have to make a decision: Will you accept these concepts as truth and act on them accordingly or will you turn your back on them and go back to the safe and familar worldview?
But "reading for transformation" can also be very exciting. Discovering new ideas or realizing the existence of
ones you were previously unaware is stimulating a event. It expands your understanding of the world around you, compels you to interact with it ways you never did before, and, most importantly, allows you to experience God in ways you could never have imagined.
priest of the nineteenth century. McAloon explains that during his year-long engagement with Hopkins' poetry he was able, through both lectio divina and other intellectual means, to interact with the texts on a spiritual level. By doing so, McAloon utilized the practice of "reading for transformation," which, according
to Sandra Schneiders goes "beyond simply discovering what the text says to asking if what it says is true, and if so in what sense, and what the personal consequences for the reader and others might be."
This pratice can apply to a number of texts from the Bible to the Qu'ran, from Hopkins' poetry to science fiction. No matter the literary text, reading for transformation is very important. You shouldn't just read the text, you should really think about and consider whether or the not the text is true and if so how, and what you, as the reader, might be required to do about it. This kind of reading can be very difficult. It requires you to step away from your comfort zone and explore thoughts and ideas that you may have never considered before. Those new thoughts and ideas will challenge how you viewed the world previous to uncovering this new knowledge. Then you have to make a decision: Will you accept these concepts as truth and act on them accordingly or will you turn your back on them and go back to the safe and familar worldview?
But "reading for transformation" can also be very exciting. Discovering new ideas or realizing the existence of
ones you were previously unaware is stimulating a event. It expands your understanding of the world around you, compels you to interact with it ways you never did before, and, most importantly, allows you to experience God in ways you could never have imagined.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Darkness, Questions, Poetry, and Spiritual Hope
"Religious optimism--denying, ignoring or sidelining darkness--offers us no hope because it isn't even aware of the question." In other words, religious optimism does the suffferer no good because it offers no real hope in the midst of their brokeness. Though individuals who easily declare religious cliches to hurting people mean well, they often don't understand the deep, unbearable suffering the hearers are going through. They don't realize that while what they're saying is true the hearers will walk through their personal deserts before they're able to accept to these truths for themselves. In fact, these people must allow themselves to suffer in order to ultimately deal with their moments of darkness. Sometimes, hurting people will suppress their pain or attempt to move on too quickly, believing that is the best thing for them. But it isn't. The hurting person must, instead, give themselves permission to feel the pain of their situation even as they allow God to walk them step by step through the darkness. This concept of facing the darkness of this world instead of fleeing from it reminds me of what C.S. Lewis did in his book, A Grief Observed. After his wife died, he faced the darkness of his doubts about God and his faith head-on. Cornel West says that, "Despair and hope are inseparable. One can never underand what hope is really about unless one wrestles with despair."
On January 12, 2010, the nation of Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake. Many of us have seen the heartbreaking news images: Injured people in tent cities, dead bodies in the streets, crying children. During a memorial service for Haiti that my university presented, the students watched a video of a young Haitian who told his story of what he experienced that day. He talked about being in one of his classes on the day the earthquake hit. He fell through the floor of the building and another man landed on top of him. This person died just moments later when he was crushed by concrete. The young man who was telling the story was trapped under this person's body and tons of concrete for eleven hours before he was rescued. Yet, after he was brought out, instead of trying to forget this harrowing experience, he used it to reach out to his fellow countrymen.
On January 12, 2010, the nation of Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake. Many of us have seen the heartbreaking news images: Injured people in tent cities, dead bodies in the streets, crying children. During a memorial service for Haiti that my university presented, the students watched a video of a young Haitian who told his story of what he experienced that day. He talked about being in one of his classes on the day the earthquake hit. He fell through the floor of the building and another man landed on top of him. This person died just moments later when he was crushed by concrete. The young man who was telling the story was trapped under this person's body and tons of concrete for eleven hours before he was rescued. Yet, after he was brought out, instead of trying to forget this harrowing experience, he used it to reach out to his fellow countrymen.
Monday, March 29, 2010
I went to Lake Bonny Park for this Assignment and Stayed for at least Forty Minuntes
I went to Lake Bonny Park today.
There are trees all around. Some tall,
others short, while still others are mere
stumps. The woods remind me of the
forest scene from The Scarlet Letter. Now
I'm at the lake. A crane lifts off, flies
over the water, and disappears. It's so peaceful
here. Even with the sound of cars and voices
of children from a nearby playground, it
somehow feels like I'm the only person in
the world. This is a nice place to come when
you want to walk and think without interruptions.
I'm on the walking path now, let's see
where it leads me. The winding pathway
led me to a footbridge from here I can see
across the lake. There are houses on the other
side. From this solitary world they seem
so far away. I wonder, who lives
in these houses and what kind of people they are?
I'm heading back to the car now, but this has been nice. I hope
to do this again.
That wasn't actually a poem. It was just some of my musings about the scenery while I was at the park.
This was a very enjoyable experience. It was great to spend some time in the solitude and quiet of nature.
When I first got to the park I walked along the path for a few minutes, then went down into the woods where
I stood looking at the sky, trees, and lake. Like I said in my so-called poem, the woods reminded me of the forest scene in The Scarlet Letter, especially the way the sun played off of the trees and ground. I didn't try
to think or write deep thoughts about my surroundings. I just let them come and wrote them down as they came to me, kind of like what I'm doing right now. This assignment was beneficial because it helped me remember that it's important to occasionally go off by yourself to dwell in and embrace the silence the world can offer you. And you don't have to go to a place like Lake Bonny Park in order to accomplish this. Bush Chapel is a great place to go to if you feel the need to be alone to pray, to read, or to just revel in the quiet.
In her poem Messenger Mary Oliver stated that her work was "standing still and learning to be astonished."
While I wasn't able to stand still for longer than a few seconds, I certainly was astonished. The sky was so big and wide, filled with white fluffy clouds. The sun sparkled off the water. Everything was so green. I wish
I could have stayed longer but I knew I couldn't hold up my ride and, anyway, I had to get back so I could study. But this assignment was definitely worth forty minutes.
There are trees all around. Some tall,
others short, while still others are mere
stumps. The woods remind me of the
forest scene from The Scarlet Letter. Now
I'm at the lake. A crane lifts off, flies
over the water, and disappears. It's so peaceful
here. Even with the sound of cars and voices
of children from a nearby playground, it
somehow feels like I'm the only person in
the world. This is a nice place to come when
you want to walk and think without interruptions.
I'm on the walking path now, let's see
where it leads me. The winding pathway
led me to a footbridge from here I can see
across the lake. There are houses on the other
side. From this solitary world they seem
so far away. I wonder, who lives
in these houses and what kind of people they are?
I'm heading back to the car now, but this has been nice. I hope
to do this again.
That wasn't actually a poem. It was just some of my musings about the scenery while I was at the park.
This was a very enjoyable experience. It was great to spend some time in the solitude and quiet of nature.
When I first got to the park I walked along the path for a few minutes, then went down into the woods where
I stood looking at the sky, trees, and lake. Like I said in my so-called poem, the woods reminded me of the forest scene in The Scarlet Letter, especially the way the sun played off of the trees and ground. I didn't try
to think or write deep thoughts about my surroundings. I just let them come and wrote them down as they came to me, kind of like what I'm doing right now. This assignment was beneficial because it helped me remember that it's important to occasionally go off by yourself to dwell in and embrace the silence the world can offer you. And you don't have to go to a place like Lake Bonny Park in order to accomplish this. Bush Chapel is a great place to go to if you feel the need to be alone to pray, to read, or to just revel in the quiet.
In her poem Messenger Mary Oliver stated that her work was "standing still and learning to be astonished."
While I wasn't able to stand still for longer than a few seconds, I certainly was astonished. The sky was so big and wide, filled with white fluffy clouds. The sun sparkled off the water. Everything was so green. I wish
I could have stayed longer but I knew I couldn't hold up my ride and, anyway, I had to get back so I could study. But this assignment was definitely worth forty minutes.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Poems of Mary Oliver
"My work is loving the world."
from Messenger by Mary Oliver
I adore that quote from Mary Oliver, a nature poet who beautifully uses words to express what she learns from God's creation. The above quote is representative of Oliver's feelings about the world around her:
She knows that as a human being she is meant to love the beauty of the Earth. She is the"messenger" sent
to tell the world of the "quickening yeast" "blue plums" and "speckled sand" that she admires so the that others can come to admire them also.
"Meanwhile I stand in the same dark peace as any pine tree, or wander on slowly like the still unhurried wind, waiting as for a gift."
from Walking Home from Oak-Head by Mary Oliver
During a previous class period Professor Corrigan asked us if we ever took the time to walk aimlessly around campus, just observing and taking in all that surrounds us. The general consensus of the class
was that no, we don't do that as often as we should. In our busy world we spend alot of time rushing from
one place to the next, always at the mercy of our full schedules and the next big important thing we need to take care of. I think everyone should set aside one day of the month during which they take on the characteristic of the "unhurried wind" and spend a few hours seeing and enjoying the wonders of creation.
"Then I enter the place of not-thinking, not-remebering, not-wanting."
from Six Recognitions of the Lord by Mary Oliver
Oliver, like many of us, desires to escape the chaotic world of everyday life and enter into a state of being where she can meet God unhindered. In doing so, Oliver not only shuts out the world but also shuts out her thoughts and feelings, her fears and expectations, so God can speak to the deepest part of soul.
from Messenger by Mary Oliver
I adore that quote from Mary Oliver, a nature poet who beautifully uses words to express what she learns from God's creation. The above quote is representative of Oliver's feelings about the world around her:
She knows that as a human being she is meant to love the beauty of the Earth. She is the"messenger" sent
to tell the world of the "quickening yeast" "blue plums" and "speckled sand" that she admires so the that others can come to admire them also.
"Meanwhile I stand in the same dark peace as any pine tree, or wander on slowly like the still unhurried wind, waiting as for a gift."
from Walking Home from Oak-Head by Mary Oliver
During a previous class period Professor Corrigan asked us if we ever took the time to walk aimlessly around campus, just observing and taking in all that surrounds us. The general consensus of the class
was that no, we don't do that as often as we should. In our busy world we spend alot of time rushing from
one place to the next, always at the mercy of our full schedules and the next big important thing we need to take care of. I think everyone should set aside one day of the month during which they take on the characteristic of the "unhurried wind" and spend a few hours seeing and enjoying the wonders of creation.
"Then I enter the place of not-thinking, not-remebering, not-wanting."
from Six Recognitions of the Lord by Mary Oliver
Oliver, like many of us, desires to escape the chaotic world of everyday life and enter into a state of being where she can meet God unhindered. In doing so, Oliver not only shuts out the world but also shuts out her thoughts and feelings, her fears and expectations, so God can speak to the deepest part of soul.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
State of the Planet
In his poem, State of the Planet, Robert Hass frequently referenced Lucretius, a Roman poet and philospher who wrote a poem called On the Nature of the Universe. In this poem Lucretius attempted
to debunk what he called "supersition"; that is, the belief that the gods created the world and the universe
and interfered with it in anyway. Lucretius argued against such an idea by presenting evidence that the
existence of the universe and its operations could be completely explained by natural phonomena-"the regular but purposeless motions and interactions of tiny atoms in empty space"-and not by the will of the gods.
Hass seems to believe the things Lucretius presented in his poem. "The book will try to give the child the
wonder of how, in our time, we understand life came to be: Stuff flung off from the sun, the molten core
still pouring sometimes rivers of black basalt across the earth from the old fountains of its origin. A hundred
million years of clouds, sulfurous rain. The long cooling. There is no silence in the world like the silence of rock before life was." The above quote and other things Hass said clearly showed that he was an evolutionist.
This poem was written on the fifieth anniversary of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, a research unit
at Colombia University. One of the things the observatory does is study the natural world in order to discover how to best steward the planet and effeciently use our natural resources. State of the Planet describes several scenes in which the world is being affected by man's often careless use of the earth's
resources. "[The book] will also tell her that the air-it's likely to say "the troposphere-" has trapped emissions
from millions of cars..and is making a greenhouse of the atmosphere..Topsoil: going fast. Rivers: dammed
and fouled...Pacific salmon nosing against dams from Yokoham to Kamchatka to Seattle and Portland, flailing up fish ladders, against turbines..Most of the ancient groves are gone." Hass wrote this poem out
of concern for Earth's well-being, hoping people would take notice and make efforts to change how they
use the resources that are available to us.
to debunk what he called "supersition"; that is, the belief that the gods created the world and the universe
and interfered with it in anyway. Lucretius argued against such an idea by presenting evidence that the
existence of the universe and its operations could be completely explained by natural phonomena-"the regular but purposeless motions and interactions of tiny atoms in empty space"-and not by the will of the gods.
Hass seems to believe the things Lucretius presented in his poem. "The book will try to give the child the
wonder of how, in our time, we understand life came to be: Stuff flung off from the sun, the molten core
still pouring sometimes rivers of black basalt across the earth from the old fountains of its origin. A hundred
million years of clouds, sulfurous rain. The long cooling. There is no silence in the world like the silence of rock before life was." The above quote and other things Hass said clearly showed that he was an evolutionist.
This poem was written on the fifieth anniversary of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, a research unit
at Colombia University. One of the things the observatory does is study the natural world in order to discover how to best steward the planet and effeciently use our natural resources. State of the Planet describes several scenes in which the world is being affected by man's often careless use of the earth's
resources. "[The book] will also tell her that the air-it's likely to say "the troposphere-" has trapped emissions
from millions of cars..and is making a greenhouse of the atmosphere..Topsoil: going fast. Rivers: dammed
and fouled...Pacific salmon nosing against dams from Yokoham to Kamchatka to Seattle and Portland, flailing up fish ladders, against turbines..Most of the ancient groves are gone." Hass wrote this poem out
of concern for Earth's well-being, hoping people would take notice and make efforts to change how they
use the resources that are available to us.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
This Blessed House
"[Sanjeev] studied the items on the mantel. It puzzled him that each was in its own way so silly. Clearly they lacked a sense of sacredness (1066)." This quote comes from This Blessed House, the short story from last week. The items Sanjeev is studying are Christian objects that he and his wife, Twinkle had found all over the house over the past week and which Twinkle insisted upon collecting and displaying on the mantel. Sanjeev's description of the objects as "silly" struck me as interesting because oftentimes many unbelievers view Christianity as being foolish and illogical. After all why would Jesus die to save the world which had treated Him with disdain? Why would He sacrifice Himself for the sake of those whom He knew would blasepheme His name?
Something else I find rather interesting is the great personality gap between Sanjeev and Twinkle. Whereas, Sanjeev is mature and reserved, Twinkle is child-like and lively. During the housewarming party,
Twinkle is talking to the guests, showing them the house, and retelling the story of how they discovered Twinkle's zoo of Christian icons. Meanwhile, Sanjeev stayed busy with replenishing the samosas, getting ice for the guests' drinks, and opening champagne bottles. Sanjeev goes out to work while Twinkle works from home and one day claims to be bored, but Sanjeev mentally notes that she could unpack boxes, sweep the attic, or retouch the paint on the bathroom windowsill.
I believe that Sanjeev might be a little jealous of Twinkle. On page 1068 he notes, "[Twinkle] was like that, excited and delighted by little things...It was a quality he did not understand. It made him feel stupid, as if the world contained hidden wonders he could not anticipate, or see." Sanjeev sees this lively young woman who takes much satisfaction from life's small joys be it a porcelain figure of Jesus or the hat belonging to one of the
party attendees. Then Sanjeev sees himself, an intelligent and resourceful man, but seemingly lacking in imagination and the ability to experience life to the fullest. Even though Sanjeev is oftentimes irritated by his wife's behavior, he could also be wishing he had her zest for the world and all it contains.
Something else I find rather interesting is the great personality gap between Sanjeev and Twinkle. Whereas, Sanjeev is mature and reserved, Twinkle is child-like and lively. During the housewarming party,
Twinkle is talking to the guests, showing them the house, and retelling the story of how they discovered Twinkle's zoo of Christian icons. Meanwhile, Sanjeev stayed busy with replenishing the samosas, getting ice for the guests' drinks, and opening champagne bottles. Sanjeev goes out to work while Twinkle works from home and one day claims to be bored, but Sanjeev mentally notes that she could unpack boxes, sweep the attic, or retouch the paint on the bathroom windowsill.
I believe that Sanjeev might be a little jealous of Twinkle. On page 1068 he notes, "[Twinkle] was like that, excited and delighted by little things...It was a quality he did not understand. It made him feel stupid, as if the world contained hidden wonders he could not anticipate, or see." Sanjeev sees this lively young woman who takes much satisfaction from life's small joys be it a porcelain figure of Jesus or the hat belonging to one of the
party attendees. Then Sanjeev sees himself, an intelligent and resourceful man, but seemingly lacking in imagination and the ability to experience life to the fullest. Even though Sanjeev is oftentimes irritated by his wife's behavior, he could also be wishing he had her zest for the world and all it contains.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Victoria Simons
Victoria Simons is a fourteen year old girl with a 5"6' frame, shoulder length black hair, and
glasses. She enjoys reading fiction novels of all kinds and works regular hours at a local
bookstore/coffeeshop. She's also a teacher's aid for a third grade World History class.
One Saturday morning Victoria woke up, showered, dressed, and walked to her friend Julie's
house.Upon her arrival Victoria said," Just let me use your bathroom real quick, then we can go to your room, maybe watch a movie." As Victoria made her way to the nearest bathroom, Julie went to her father's study to speak with him. "Was that Victoria I heard?," Julie's father, Gavin asked, hearing his daughter come in. "Yeah," Julie replied, "she just got here."
"Tell Victoria I admire the way she handled that situation with Chloe a couple weeks ago," Gavin said.
Furrowing her brow, Julie asked, "What do you mean?" Surprised Gavin said, "You mean she didn't tell you?
Victoria's dad told me Chloe had been spreading all sorts of nasty gossip about Victoria around school for
the last three months or so. Knowing that those who really knew her would never believe such trash, Victoria
never responded to Chloe. But, man, she's certainly had a hard time with it, seeing how kids yelled the
cruelest things at her in the school hallways and even vandalized her locker." Julie said, "I heard that Chloe and some other jerks had been saying things about her, but never knew anything more than that. What happened between Victoria and Chloe two weeks ago?"
"Well," her father replied, "it happened the afternoon I took you out of school for your dentist appointment.
Victoria and some of her other friends were walking back from PE class, when Chloe came up and said
something horrible to her. The girls with Victoria immediately went to her defense. Things heated up quickly and they looked ready to tear Chloe apart. Victoria stepped in and tried to convince them to ignore Chloe and walk away, saying that getting into a fight with her would just make her determined to talk more trash. Eventually, Victoria was able to lead her friends away, but Chloe was screaming and cursing at them as they went. Fortunately, a teacher who had spoken with Victoria a number of times about her problems with Chloe
overheard the whole thing. As soon as the other girls left, the teacher hauled Chloe to the principal's office. Since this wasn't the first time Chloe had been caught cursing or saying other that she shouldn't, she was suspended. Victoria's father told me Chloe's parents won't allow her back in school until she undergoes serious counseling."
"Poor Victoria," Julie said, with a sigh. "I can't imagine what she's been going through the past couple months.
If that had been me I would have strangled Chloe. But I'm proud of her for handling the situation as gracefully as she did. Victoria never once said anything mean about Chloe or talked about getting revenge. When one
of our friends asked Victoria how she was dealing with the situation not too long after the gossip started, she answered honestly. Victoria admitted that she often had awful thoughts about Chloe and wished she could hurt Chloe as much as she was hurting her. Whenever those thoughts came Victoria pushed to them to the back of her mind until later. Then when she had a quiet moment she wrote down all the bad thoughts and gave the situation to God, asking him to change her heart toward Chloe, see her the way Jesus did, and heal whatever pain was causing Chloe to hurt others. Nodding, Gavin said, "Like I said, I really admire Victoria for the way she handled this." At that moment, Victoria emerged from the bathroom and called to Julie. The girls got some food from the kitchen, settled down in Julie's room, and watched The Lion King.
Late that afternoon, Julie walked Victoria home. "Hey, Victoria," Julie asked, "why didn't you tell me about that incident between you and Chloe?" Victoria stiffened but didn't answer. Figuring she didn't want to discuss anything connected with that painful time in her life, Julie didn't repeat the question. Several minutes later, Victoria suddenly said, "I found Chloe later that day in the school parking lot. She was crying." Stunned
at this news, Julie waited to see if Victoria would divulge more information. After awhile, Victoria began to talk, "Even though I had been praying that God would somehow enable me to love Chloe despite everything she's said about me, angry thoughts about her kept invading my mind and I soon realized that my angry at her was coming out in other areas of my life. The day befor that incident with her I screamed at my sister for no reason. And on another day before that I sassed my mom when she asked me to do the dishes. By the time that incident with Chloe happened I was literally ready to break her in two, and almost thought about not intervening when the girls I was with looked ready to do it for me.
But then I realized they would get in trouble so I stepped up and convinced them to leave. As soon as school ended I hid in the bathroom where I railed at Chloe for what she was doing to me and at God for allowing her to do it. Finally I went out to the parking lot and that's when I saw Chloe. She was sitting on a bench crying. I was tempted to just walk away but I felt God urging me to go speak with her and, reluctantly, I did.
At first, Chloe was really mean and several times I almost left, but I just felt God telling me that I needed to stay. Eventually, Chloe started telling me about herself and her life. I won't go into details, but she's had it rough for a very long time. As I listened to her, I began feeling an overwhelming compassion for her that I had never experienced before, not even while I was begging God to create a love in my heart for Chloe.
We cried together. Chloe apologized for the rumors she had spread about me and, believe or not, I felt so much love for her by this point I had no problem forgiving her. We decided to put the past behind us and become friends. We traded cell phone numbers and we've been keeping touch ever since. Astounded, Julie said, "Victoria, that's wonderful. I can't believe you had the strength to face her like that after all she's done to you, and now you're friends. But best of all God answered your prayer. He gave you the ability to love Chloe."
"Yes," Victoria said, "He certainly did."
glasses. She enjoys reading fiction novels of all kinds and works regular hours at a local
bookstore/coffeeshop. She's also a teacher's aid for a third grade World History class.
One Saturday morning Victoria woke up, showered, dressed, and walked to her friend Julie's
house.Upon her arrival Victoria said," Just let me use your bathroom real quick, then we can go to your room, maybe watch a movie." As Victoria made her way to the nearest bathroom, Julie went to her father's study to speak with him. "Was that Victoria I heard?," Julie's father, Gavin asked, hearing his daughter come in. "Yeah," Julie replied, "she just got here."
"Tell Victoria I admire the way she handled that situation with Chloe a couple weeks ago," Gavin said.
Furrowing her brow, Julie asked, "What do you mean?" Surprised Gavin said, "You mean she didn't tell you?
Victoria's dad told me Chloe had been spreading all sorts of nasty gossip about Victoria around school for
the last three months or so. Knowing that those who really knew her would never believe such trash, Victoria
never responded to Chloe. But, man, she's certainly had a hard time with it, seeing how kids yelled the
cruelest things at her in the school hallways and even vandalized her locker." Julie said, "I heard that Chloe and some other jerks had been saying things about her, but never knew anything more than that. What happened between Victoria and Chloe two weeks ago?"
"Well," her father replied, "it happened the afternoon I took you out of school for your dentist appointment.
Victoria and some of her other friends were walking back from PE class, when Chloe came up and said
something horrible to her. The girls with Victoria immediately went to her defense. Things heated up quickly and they looked ready to tear Chloe apart. Victoria stepped in and tried to convince them to ignore Chloe and walk away, saying that getting into a fight with her would just make her determined to talk more trash. Eventually, Victoria was able to lead her friends away, but Chloe was screaming and cursing at them as they went. Fortunately, a teacher who had spoken with Victoria a number of times about her problems with Chloe
overheard the whole thing. As soon as the other girls left, the teacher hauled Chloe to the principal's office. Since this wasn't the first time Chloe had been caught cursing or saying other that she shouldn't, she was suspended. Victoria's father told me Chloe's parents won't allow her back in school until she undergoes serious counseling."
"Poor Victoria," Julie said, with a sigh. "I can't imagine what she's been going through the past couple months.
If that had been me I would have strangled Chloe. But I'm proud of her for handling the situation as gracefully as she did. Victoria never once said anything mean about Chloe or talked about getting revenge. When one
of our friends asked Victoria how she was dealing with the situation not too long after the gossip started, she answered honestly. Victoria admitted that she often had awful thoughts about Chloe and wished she could hurt Chloe as much as she was hurting her. Whenever those thoughts came Victoria pushed to them to the back of her mind until later. Then when she had a quiet moment she wrote down all the bad thoughts and gave the situation to God, asking him to change her heart toward Chloe, see her the way Jesus did, and heal whatever pain was causing Chloe to hurt others. Nodding, Gavin said, "Like I said, I really admire Victoria for the way she handled this." At that moment, Victoria emerged from the bathroom and called to Julie. The girls got some food from the kitchen, settled down in Julie's room, and watched The Lion King.
Late that afternoon, Julie walked Victoria home. "Hey, Victoria," Julie asked, "why didn't you tell me about that incident between you and Chloe?" Victoria stiffened but didn't answer. Figuring she didn't want to discuss anything connected with that painful time in her life, Julie didn't repeat the question. Several minutes later, Victoria suddenly said, "I found Chloe later that day in the school parking lot. She was crying." Stunned
at this news, Julie waited to see if Victoria would divulge more information. After awhile, Victoria began to talk, "Even though I had been praying that God would somehow enable me to love Chloe despite everything she's said about me, angry thoughts about her kept invading my mind and I soon realized that my angry at her was coming out in other areas of my life. The day befor that incident with her I screamed at my sister for no reason. And on another day before that I sassed my mom when she asked me to do the dishes. By the time that incident with Chloe happened I was literally ready to break her in two, and almost thought about not intervening when the girls I was with looked ready to do it for me.
But then I realized they would get in trouble so I stepped up and convinced them to leave. As soon as school ended I hid in the bathroom where I railed at Chloe for what she was doing to me and at God for allowing her to do it. Finally I went out to the parking lot and that's when I saw Chloe. She was sitting on a bench crying. I was tempted to just walk away but I felt God urging me to go speak with her and, reluctantly, I did.
At first, Chloe was really mean and several times I almost left, but I just felt God telling me that I needed to stay. Eventually, Chloe started telling me about herself and her life. I won't go into details, but she's had it rough for a very long time. As I listened to her, I began feeling an overwhelming compassion for her that I had never experienced before, not even while I was begging God to create a love in my heart for Chloe.
We cried together. Chloe apologized for the rumors she had spread about me and, believe or not, I felt so much love for her by this point I had no problem forgiving her. We decided to put the past behind us and become friends. We traded cell phone numbers and we've been keeping touch ever since. Astounded, Julie said, "Victoria, that's wonderful. I can't believe you had the strength to face her like that after all she's done to you, and now you're friends. But best of all God answered your prayer. He gave you the ability to love Chloe."
"Yes," Victoria said, "He certainly did."
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sonny's Blues
Sonny: "No, there's no way not to suffer. But you try all kinds of ways to keep from drowning in it (404)."
This is a quote from Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin. In this section of the story, Sonny had been out in the
street listening to a woman sing and when he came inside, Sonny commented to his brother that the woman
must have endured alot of suffering in order to sing like that. His brother stated there was no way not to suffer which led Sonny to make the above quote. And I think Sonny is right. People will try all kinds of
things-from drugs, to alcoholism, to religion-to end their personal suffering. They will try almost anything
to prevent further suffering, even if they are very much aware that most of what they try will just cause them
more pain. Usually and unfortunately, itsn't until they reach the brink of self-destruction that they realize how
much they have ruined their lives to achieve the empty consolation of experiencing a few moments when they
are not suffering. However, coming to this realization does not always convince the person to turn their lives
around and get back on the right track. They have been living in depravity for so long that they belive it's
too late to go back, and that even if they tried to they would fail. Sonny: "And there are some who just live...in hell and they kow it and they see what's happeining and they go right on (404)." So many people
believe that money, popularity, and other empty things will end their suffering, but those people are
wrong. Jesus is the only real antidote for whatever anyone may be going through. Even wonderful things like music, which is the focal point of this story, cannot prevent suffering or heal pain, though music can lead to the One who can and will rescue those in need.
This is a quote from Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin. In this section of the story, Sonny had been out in the
street listening to a woman sing and when he came inside, Sonny commented to his brother that the woman
must have endured alot of suffering in order to sing like that. His brother stated there was no way not to suffer which led Sonny to make the above quote. And I think Sonny is right. People will try all kinds of
things-from drugs, to alcoholism, to religion-to end their personal suffering. They will try almost anything
to prevent further suffering, even if they are very much aware that most of what they try will just cause them
more pain. Usually and unfortunately, itsn't until they reach the brink of self-destruction that they realize how
much they have ruined their lives to achieve the empty consolation of experiencing a few moments when they
are not suffering. However, coming to this realization does not always convince the person to turn their lives
around and get back on the right track. They have been living in depravity for so long that they belive it's
too late to go back, and that even if they tried to they would fail. Sonny: "And there are some who just live...in hell and they kow it and they see what's happeining and they go right on (404)." So many people
believe that money, popularity, and other empty things will end their suffering, but those people are
wrong. Jesus is the only real antidote for whatever anyone may be going through. Even wonderful things like music, which is the focal point of this story, cannot prevent suffering or heal pain, though music can lead to the One who can and will rescue those in need.
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