Comments on: worth the effort? http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/03/11/worth-the-effort/ when faith like a child isn't enough Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:58:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Jenny http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/03/11/worth-the-effort/#comment-73 Mon, 13 Mar 2006 16:14:16 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/03/11/worth-the-effort/#comment-73 <i>It may be that all I discover is that I’m not so sure about what I used to be so sure about… but isn’t that valuable in and of itself?</i> Yes, it is. It's also uncomfortable. All my whining aside, I don't want to stop contemplating, but sometimes a person feels a certain amount of fatigue -- contemplative fatigue, as it were. I guess it goes back to that old "ignorance is bliss" thing, which on some levels, rings true. In the end, ignorance is just ignorance, but sometimes it's easier. Yes, chronic illnesses suck. It's nice to know you're one of the people blessed with understanding of the suckiness of chronic/invisible illness, though. :) It may be that all I discover is that I’m not so sure about what I used to be so sure about… but isn’t that valuable in and of itself?

Yes, it is. It’s also uncomfortable. All my whining aside, I don’t want to stop contemplating, but sometimes a person feels a certain amount of fatigue — contemplative fatigue, as it were. I guess it goes back to that old “ignorance is bliss” thing, which on some levels, rings true. In the end, ignorance is just ignorance, but sometimes it’s easier.

Yes, chronic illnesses suck. It’s nice to know you’re one of the people blessed with understanding of the suckiness of chronic/invisible illness, though. :)

]]> by: Zeke http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/03/11/worth-the-effort/#comment-72 Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:18:05 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/03/11/worth-the-effort/#comment-72 Huh. I think it's only easy if you aren't even trying, really. As for stopping thinking and starting living, there is that view that "the unexamined life is not worth living"... I have found that a contemplation indulged can have a lasting impact on my life as I integrate what I've discovered. It may be that all I discover is that I'm not so sure about what I used to be so sure about... but isn't that valuable in and of itself? I'm no fan of monastic navel-gazing, but that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about unpacking our built-in assumptions, about thinking for ourselves, about becoming more sensitive to the many ways that creation is testifying about its maker. I think this makes living in the moment more honest and satisfying. By the way, my wife has a chronic illness (two, in fact). Definitely changes one's perspective on things. Huh. I think it’s only easy if you aren’t even trying, really.

As for stopping thinking and starting living, there is that view that “the unexamined life is not worth living”… I have found that a contemplation indulged can have a lasting impact on my life as I integrate what I’ve discovered. It may be that all I discover is that I’m not so sure about what I used to be so sure about… but isn’t that valuable in and of itself?

I’m no fan of monastic navel-gazing, but that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about unpacking our built-in assumptions, about thinking for ourselves, about becoming more sensitive to the many ways that creation is testifying about its maker. I think this makes living in the moment more honest and satisfying.

By the way, my wife has a chronic illness (two, in fact). Definitely changes one’s perspective on things.

]]>