Simple Pleasures -
In Screwtape Letters, the devil writes this about God:
"He's a hedonist at heart. All those fasts and vigils and stakes and crosses are only a facade. Or only like foam on the sea shore. Out at sea, out in His sea, there is pleasure, and more pleasure. he makes no secret of it; at His right hand are 'pleasures for evermore'... He's vulgar, Wormwood. He has a bourgeois mind. he has filled His world with pleasures. There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least - sleeping, washing, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working. Everything has to be twisted before it's any use to us. We fight under cruel disadvantages. Nothing is naturally on our side."
Yes. But do we believe it? Or are we afraid of the incredible joys that are ours for the taking - afraid that we should be saving the world instead of enjoying. I understand the admonitions warning us all against complacency and idolatry. But it seems that, in some cases, these very admonitions have become the grounds for disengagement from real joy - from tasting anything, because to feel pleasure would necessitate an openness to pain as well. Fearful of the pain of feeling, we spiritualize disengagement from lots of things: creativity, our sexuality, our food, laughter, and much more.
Even the writing of these words has me wondering how people will respond - "is he advocating promiscuity and drunkenness?" I hope you know me better than that. I'm advocating living fully - by receiving both the pleasures and pains that each day brings, and tasting them fully.
I MUST write about politics again before the election - but right now I'm in search of some good coffee.
posted by Richard Dahlstrom @ 9:15 AM
6 Comments:
here's your coffee:
http://www.zokacoffee.com/product.php/139/5/el-salvador-montenegro-de-santa-ana-cup-of-excellence-2006
or this:
http://www.potofgoldcoffee.com/
try the one from Kenya
My favorite, well, one of them. ZuKafe is the only place in our area that serves Stumptown coffee. Nice place to rest for a bit. http://www.zukafe.com/
Java Jazz Coffee Hut on the south end of the Ballard Bridge. The red haired girl, Katherine is the best barista in all of Seattle. She works mornings.
Glad to hear that we'll get some more political discussion in the future. What I appreciate about Barak Obama (whether he runs or not), is that he seems to be an honest leader truly interested in involving his faith actively, especially in such an arena as politics. This is rare and refreshing and something that doesn't 1. seem to mix well with either party and 2. could be his downfall and our loss...what a shame!
http://usliberals.about.com/b/a/257687.htm
I'm new to your blog - appreciate your thoughts. I'm north of you in Bellingham. I was reflecting the other day on the fact that the pleasure and joy of God must be fought for. We don't naturaly recline into the joy or pleasure of the Lord but instead fight an often uphill battle against discouragment, lies, or simply life.
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