Read Literature, Learn an Age

-
Image
  “The discovery has been made that a literary work is not a mere play of the imagination, the isolated caprice of an excited brain, but a transcript of contemporary manners and customs and the sign of a particular state of intellect. The conclusion derived from this is that, through literary monuments, we can retrace the way in which men felt and thought many centuries ago.” Hippolyte Adolphe Taine (1863) “Introduction to the History of English Literature”

Silence

-

 

Very few nowadays have experienced true silence. Our world is saturated in sound. Everywhere we go, a TV is on, or music is coming from somewhere. Even if we turned them off we hear blowers, fans, engines running, a siren passing to some emergency somewhere, people talking on their handhelds or playing games. Vehicles are loaded with ridiculous sound systems that announce their presence long before they are seen.


Where are the quiet moments? When are the quiet moments? Can’t go to sleep without the sound of a machine running (maybe that’s snoring), or brown noise or ambient tones. No wonder our brains are restless. 


It’s time to strike out again, leave the headphones at home and find the silence God intends. Give your spirit a rest from the hubbub and listen to the wind in the trees, birdsong, the crackle of a fire. Somewhere, it’s snowing and in the soft-drifted-down is a deafening silence as the world snuggles under nature’s muffler. 

Popular posts from this blog

Rock Me, Epictetus!

-
Image
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8 
Read more

The Smooth-flowing Life

-
Image
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
Read more