Manners

In a way I appreciate the manners/sense of decorum with which Jane Austen imbues some of her characters. Some people these days could learn from them. However, manners can be taken too far. In the book "Mansfield Park," Fanny was approached by a man (Henry) who wanted to marry her. She did not feel that he was an upright person, and had proof of it that involved one of her cousins. When she was telling her uncle (with whose family she lived) that she would not marry Henry, she was unwilling to support her view by telling him about the inappropriate behavior of her cousin and Henry. This left the uncle thinking that Fanny really didn't have any non-selfish reason for not marrying Henry, and he became quite angry. Even if Fanny should not have spread the word to others about Henry's improper behavior, it seems it would have been right for her to have shared it with her uncle under the circumstances (and maybe even outside those circumstances). Or would you call that slanderous speech or speaking evil of another?

More on C.S. Lewis

A couple more thoughts from "The Problem of Pain."

I appreciated the following quote: "with our friends, our lovers, our children, we are exacting and would rather see them suffer much than be happy in contemptible and estranging modes. If God is love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness."

The chapter "Divine Goodness" (possibly on page 37, where it speaks of our Lord's Sonship) sparked the following thoughts. We are to strive to be like God in our values, actions, etc. However, there is a difference in the actions God performed as man (Jesus) and as not a man. God desires for us to be a certain way - He wants us to pattern our lives the way he would live life on earth. If we were to strive to be like God in his non-human form, there would be things we would regard as okay that are not right for humans to do - ie killing other humans, vengeance (which is God's in the purest sense). So God sent his Son, who is part of Himself, as a man (maybe) partly so that we could see what it means to walk as God would walk.

Later in the chapter I came across the following (do not take the metaphor too far): "When God becomes a Man and lives as a creature among His own creatures in Palestine, then indeed His life is one of supreme self-sacrifice and leads to Calvary. A modern pantheistic philosopher has said, 'When the Absolute falls into the sea it becomes a fish'; in the same way, we Christians can point to the Incarnation and say that when God empties Himself of His glory and submits to those conditions under which alone egoism and altruism have a clear meaning, He is seen to be wholly altruistic. But God in His transcendence -- God as the unconditioned ground of all conditions -- cannot easily be thought of in the same way."*

* Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996. p. 42

Inclination

I recently read "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis.
He thought there might be something like pain in heaven - not an undesirable sort of pain. I don't mind that from my earthly point of view. I derive enjoyment from some forms of pain and it would be strange to be without them. However, to think as Lewis did one would have to regard the Bible passage about there not being any pain in heaven as referring to pain sensations that are undesirable. Is that a stretch?

When deciding if an action is proper to do (when the answer is not clear according to Scripture), I should consider how my personal desires might color my opinion. In some ways it might be easier to decide about an action I don't want to do - it seems like my motives are more likely to be aligned with God's will in such an occasion.
Lewis had the following to say:
"We cannot therefore know that we are acting at all, or primarily, for God's sake, unless the material of the action is contrary to our inclinations, or (in other words) painful... Kant thought that no action had moral value unless it were done out of pure reverence for the moral law, that is, without inclination, and he has been accused of a 'morbid frame of mind' which measures the value of an act by its unpleasantnesss...Yet against Kant stands the obvious truth, noted by Aristotle, that the more virtuous a man becomes the more he enjoys virtuous actions."*

So the more I pattern my life after Christ, the more my desires should be in tune with his will. That's neat.

*Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996, p. 98.

Three Weeks

Fall term is over and the grades have been reported. I don't think my freedom has hit me yet, but I'm definitely not as stressed as I was last week. When your employer comments that you looked pensive the previous day, asks if everything is okay, and offers to be of help - well, I guess I let the stress get to me.
Now is the time for my brain to reorganize, recuperate, and reenergize for the coming term. Three weeks should be long enough for that. Three weeks of sleeping, reading, etc.

Not So Bad, Really

Here's something (partially modified) I wrote last Saturday when I was studying pathology:

"It's so exciting to be studying veterinary medicine! Things like regenerative anemia - it involves a string of related events. An organism loses blood, which leads to increased hematopoietic cell production and increased release of red cells into the blood. The cells that are given up are different (bigger, more ribosomes, different color) than normal mature RBCs because they are being cranked out so quickly. It is logical and connected (even if my writing doesn't mirrow the fact).

"I have a hard time agreeing with my colleagues who hate vet school and wish they weren't here. Not long ago there were a bunch of discouraging comments written on the white board in the student lounge. Perk up, fellows. Sure, I need to study for my finals and a healthy amount of stress is good. But it's not that bad, really."


Well, that was Saturday. The present time is post-two-finals and I am worried about my virology grade. Hence, I am not in the gushing (for me) state I was on Saturday; but I still hold that vet school is neat (even if I am realizing afresh that it would be even neater if I didn't procrastinate and was always able to ace my tests no sweat).

God's Will

Sometimes opportunities arise that I am not able to realize. In an effort to dispel disappointment, I try to decide whether it was my fault that I was unable to take advantage of the opportunity, which helps me sort of decide whether it was God's will.
For instance, I was invited to spend Wedneday night at CS's (a female) house. I ended up not going ultimately because I needed to study more for a test the next day - it was my fault for not studying more ahead of time.
However, that evening my house parents were expecting company that were coming for a funeral. When they arrived I discovered that one of them was a friend (DA) I had not seen for six years (she didn't know that I lived there). If I had spent the night at CS's house, I would not have seen my other friend that night. I might have gone to Campus Ambassadors Thursday evening and may never have gotten a chance to talk much with her. Did God use my procrastination in studying to enable me to visit with my out of state friend? (or was her staying at my house a complete coincidence with no value to it that God cared about?) Is it sort of like God using the ungodliness of the Assyrians to carry out his will?
Or maybe if I had not procrastinated I would have spent the night with CS, found out from my house mother that DA was staying at my house, not have gone to Campus Ambassadors, and have been able to talk to DA Thursday night. In that scenario I might have received the greatest blessing....

Shopping

Last Friday my dad and I went shopping at a nearby mall. Items to purchase: shoes, belt, backpack. We went to the first two places together and then split, agreeing to meet at a bookstore in an hour. I made a valiant effort to find shoes suitable to my taste, but failed miserably. My father also failed in his shopping efforts and we left empty-handed. I personally find it rather amusing.

Is there something wrong with my character because I was unable to find shoes that suited me? I have an opinion about the way I want to look, and that includes shoes. To some extent my shopping diffulty could be (is) related to pride. On the other hand, if properly carried out the way I decide to dress can be a good indication of my inner traits. Dressing in a becoming manner may also produce positive feedback and help the individual to be more becoming inside.

Is all pride bad? Is there a difference between self-respect and pride?

Pride often helps people to behave, dress, and speak the way they should. However, the end does not justify the means. It would be ideal for Christians to replace their pride-based motivations with a strong desire to live for God and be all he wants them to be. Focus on God and the way your life affects others, not your own image or potential embarrassment.