Growing up I saw something desirable in the story of the prodigal son. I wanted that amazing transformation in my life. I wanted the suffering so my story would be better, more powerful, more influential on those who heard it. My father had that prodigal story. He always told me to fix my perspective. The better life was the better story. The story of the older brother, apart from his ungratefulness and lack of perspective, is far greater. Imagine a life where our heavenly Father looks at us and says, "You are always with me and all I have is yours." I guess that life is harder to market.
I suspect for some people, perhaps they are just ordinary people, who without their pathologies, would have nothing to stand out from all the other ordinary people. For the vast majority, that’s not an issue. For them, it’s the central issue to their lives.
I think part of the romanticism of mental illness, dysfunctional families so on and so forth, is it's the beginning of the hero's journey; everyone wants some sort of obstacle to overcome because we admire the sort of people who overcome such challenges. The problem you pointed out, is a certain sort of person who just stays stuck in the obstacle, stuck at the beginning of the story; romanticizing the potential end but not making it a reality, because - let's face it - the reality so often doesn't measure up to our fantasies; it's a lot more work, and not nearly as shiny. Many of our modern stories also romanticize the mentally illness: "Aren't they all so novel and interesting and in touch with the dirt of reality; all those happy, well-adjusted people are shallow, tone-deaf, and too stupid to understand how miserable they should be. Aren't I so artistic and interesting. [chokes on joint smoke]."
Years ago a co-worker of mine had a sizeable rock or hard place removed from her life. She was unhappy and one of my friends, observing her said "She misses her albatross."
Jesus question “do you want to be well?” asks so much. Besides probing for a hunger for change and health, it also asks for an acknowledgment that you are sick. This is opposite of normalizing your condition. It also asks you to acknowledge that change and healing are possible. Will you let go of the familiar security of your sickness to go on the grand adventure and uncertainty that healing brings?
Absolutely right. My brother is one of these cases - 44 years old and absolutely navel-gazing his life away. It is nearly impossible to talk to him, because he is so easily "micro-aggressed" and feels that he doesn't have the energy to even consider having a dog, let alone any meaningful relationship. He has alienated his six brothers and sisters. I pray for him all the time. At least he will come to family events for a couple hours a few times a year so we at least see him. He is, as far as I know, still an atheist, but maybe someone is reaching him...I wouldn't know for certain, but I keep praying. It is such a difficult situation - but I have to hope he is finding some peace in his life somewhere - there seems to be nothing we can do.
I also haven't read Notes since high school. Would you recommend a good translation? Several things I've read in the last few years have not been well translated.
Growing up I saw something desirable in the story of the prodigal son. I wanted that amazing transformation in my life. I wanted the suffering so my story would be better, more powerful, more influential on those who heard it. My father had that prodigal story. He always told me to fix my perspective. The better life was the better story. The story of the older brother, apart from his ungratefulness and lack of perspective, is far greater. Imagine a life where our heavenly Father looks at us and says, "You are always with me and all I have is yours." I guess that life is harder to market.
Flattering to egos…and an excuse not to take personal responsibility in and for their lives.
I read this with a bit of resonance, and a desire to constantly remind myself that "underground" is never a good place to take comfort.
I suspect for some people, perhaps they are just ordinary people, who without their pathologies, would have nothing to stand out from all the other ordinary people. For the vast majority, that’s not an issue. For them, it’s the central issue to their lives.
“Do you want to be well?” seems to capture the entire zeitgeist in a nutshell
Why did anyone bother writing books after Dostoyevsky?
Spencer thank you. It is up to the individual. I pray for help from the Father in heaven.
I think part of the romanticism of mental illness, dysfunctional families so on and so forth, is it's the beginning of the hero's journey; everyone wants some sort of obstacle to overcome because we admire the sort of people who overcome such challenges. The problem you pointed out, is a certain sort of person who just stays stuck in the obstacle, stuck at the beginning of the story; romanticizing the potential end but not making it a reality, because - let's face it - the reality so often doesn't measure up to our fantasies; it's a lot more work, and not nearly as shiny. Many of our modern stories also romanticize the mentally illness: "Aren't they all so novel and interesting and in touch with the dirt of reality; all those happy, well-adjusted people are shallow, tone-deaf, and too stupid to understand how miserable they should be. Aren't I so artistic and interesting. [chokes on joint smoke]."
Years ago a co-worker of mine had a sizeable rock or hard place removed from her life. She was unhappy and one of my friends, observing her said "She misses her albatross."
Jesus question “do you want to be well?” asks so much. Besides probing for a hunger for change and health, it also asks for an acknowledgment that you are sick. This is opposite of normalizing your condition. It also asks you to acknowledge that change and healing are possible. Will you let go of the familiar security of your sickness to go on the grand adventure and uncertainty that healing brings?
Absolutely right. My brother is one of these cases - 44 years old and absolutely navel-gazing his life away. It is nearly impossible to talk to him, because he is so easily "micro-aggressed" and feels that he doesn't have the energy to even consider having a dog, let alone any meaningful relationship. He has alienated his six brothers and sisters. I pray for him all the time. At least he will come to family events for a couple hours a few times a year so we at least see him. He is, as far as I know, still an atheist, but maybe someone is reaching him...I wouldn't know for certain, but I keep praying. It is such a difficult situation - but I have to hope he is finding some peace in his life somewhere - there seems to be nothing we can do.
I also haven't read Notes since high school. Would you recommend a good translation? Several things I've read in the last few years have not been well translated.
Can't go wrong with Penguin Classics.