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On Not Hiding Our Heads In The Sand
By gartenfische | April 3, 2008
To paraphrase Karl Barth slightly, he said we should carry the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other (he was actually talking about preaching, but it’s highly relevant to daily life, no?).
I read once that the Dalai Lama listens to the news on the radio every morning (this, even before the recent uprisings). It is tempting to retreat from the world, tempting to try to protect ourselves from the evil that exists and is evident everywhere. To avoid the news. I do believe that we may experience a natural ebb and flow, where we are sometimes highly conscious of the world and its goings-on and then perhaps withdrawing a bit at other times (especially contemplative types), and I don’t believe forcing ourselves to be other than where we naturally find ourselves is necessary or good. But I don’t believe that we are to intentionally ignore the world and its reality, its needs. That’s why I started the Eyes Wide Open (EWO) posts.
I’ve been posting quite a few EWO posts over at wyrdbyrd recently (scroll down the page once there and you will see). I hope you’ll take a look.
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I’ve been absent a lot lately, you may have noticed. There are two explanations for this. I actually had to work (yes, at a job!) for a couple of weeks and I’ve started attending a poetry workshop and have been spending more time writing non-bloggy stuff. So I apologize to readers and blog-friends for my absence, and thank you, as always, for being here.
Topics: Christianity, life |
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Good to know you’re still around, and yes, I couldn’t agree with you more … glad that you’re writing poetry. Will you post any of it?
April 4th, 2008 at 10:23 am
This is so true- and therein lies the rub between action and contemplation. A hard balance to maintain, but a most needed one. Thank you as always.
Work! Mon dieu, what’s next- me working? Deep sigh. Now a poetry workshop, that sounds great.
Here or not you are thought of and prayed for all the time and with great love!
April 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Charlotte, At this point, I’m not planning to post it. I have a long way to go. . . . We’ll see.
Fran, Thank you so much for thinking of me, praying for me, for all the love you share. You are always in my prayers, too. Much love to you.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I’m intrigued by your poetry workshop. I hope you’ll share some of your writings.
I’d wondered why you were gone, and I’m glad to know that you are all right.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I’d like to hear more about the poetry workshop too, and read some of your poetry.
I was taught that the point of a retreat is to come back. Jesus went into the desert so he could come back. But it’s very difficult to try to carry God and the world in my heart at once. Thanks. Glad you’re back.