Augustine's Confessions

If I were going to add a name to the blog to represent the theological side of our musings, it might very well be Augustine. I don't agree with him on everything, but his insight, his honesty, and his heart are staggering. I'm terribly fascinated by his Confessions, and, intellectual work aside, consider that his was the first autobiography, the first manuscript written in a painfully honest, introspective style. I've heard it said that until Augustine no one had considered so personal a story worth telling. It's kind of like Don Quixote being the first modern novel and establishing a genre we can't really imagine being without.

Here are a couple of nuggets from F.J. Sheed's translation of the Latin:

But amongst these vices and crimes and countless iniquities are the sins into which men fall although they are in general on the right way. By those who judge rightly, these sins are blamed according to the rule of perfection, but the person themselves may still be praised for the hope of a better harvest, as the blade gives hope of the growing corn.

And here's another that I include for the vividness of the language. I'd like to know to say somethin' like this in Latin.

For swelling and undigested discord often belches forth bitter words when in the venom of intimate conversations with a present friend hatred at its rawest is breathed upon an absent enemy.

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That's a mouthful, and not a delicious one at that.

Sonnets from the Portugueese XIV

XIV

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of ease on such a day--
For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheek dry,--
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Quote by George Eliot

"A friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away." -- George Eliot

I'm so grateful for my friends and for the thoughts of writers who can illustrate, so much better than I, the spirit of friendship, loyalty, honesty and fidelity.

Friendship is frail when saturated in the spirits of gossip, self-interest, and judgement... and will inevitably decay. I have known people who are baffled when the poison of their tounges, the cancerous jealousy of their hearts and the uncaring actions of their deeds who then wonder why communication, trust and fellowship do not exist. I've been that person from time-to-time, but usually find a means of humility and reconcilliation when I am in the wrong. Not so with everyone. Some find the channels of their egos spilling over with stubborn resistance to compassion and accountability.

If only friendship were as strong as steel. If only it never failed. If only the pain one causes another could be rectified every time, but an unwilling heart and smug insistance threaten the tender threads of friendship

Personally, I am guarded about with whom I share my life, my thoughts, my secrets. I am very blessed to have friends who are gentle, encouraging, humble and do not seek driving perfection from me. I am grateful for the generosity of their spirits to "blow the rest away"... It is a comfort to find the delicacy of friendship spoken truly in scripture, literature and in life...

Knowing God

I've recently started reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer, and while I can't claim to be in agreement with him on some points (especially concerning graven images), his stuff is well thought out, thorough, and interesting. I think his definition of wisdom is beautiful, from a chapter called "God Only Wise."

What does the Bible mean when it calls God wise? In Scripture, wisdom is a moral as well as an intellectual quality, more than mere intelligence or knowledge, just as it is more than mere cleverness or cunning. For us to be truly wise, in the Bible sense, our intelligence and cleverness must be harnessed to a right end. Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.

Wisdom is, in fact, the practical side of moral goodness. As such, it is found in its fullness only in God. He alone is naturally and entirely and invariably wise. "His wisdom ever waketh," says the hymn, and it is true. God is never other than wise in anything that he does. Wisdom, as the old theologians used to say, is his essence, just as power, and truth, and goodness, are his essence-- integral elements, that is in his character.

I think this is a beautiful illustration of wisdom, with the capacity and will accompanying the ability to move, but all of these contingent on their alignment with "the best and highest goal." I'll have to dig up Augustine's writing on Satan's great sin (and subsequently Adam's and the rest of humanity): to choose to elevate lessers goods to the position of highest good.

Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen is my all-time favorite (or should I say favourite) writer. I adore her illustrative tales of culture, relationships, and love.

I began reading Austen in my early college days under the tutelage of Marti Leighty, a professor of mine. I don't know whether I was reading Austen at the right time at the right place or just with the right person, but I was immediately enveloped in the passion that is Austen.

My favorite of the Austen novels is Pride and Prejudice. I will likely post about this several times as I plan to re-read the book this spring before my own nuptials. I find the heroine, Elizabeth Bennett, written as close to the true nature and heart of a woman if I have ever read one. She is not without flaw and failure, has a temper and can be rude, but is keenly aware of her place (and her family's place) among the society of the country and with valiant efforts, and true heroic form, tries to save them from perilous ruin by the un-managed manners of the Bennett household.

How often does she intelligently speak of her interests or of the people around her... how much does Austen give way to the failure of Lizzy to always be self-controlled (glorious!)... how much more victorious and enjoyable is the ending having witnessed such love, regret, humility and, yes, pride... more than a novel of politics, manners or quaint country folk. I believe this novel, better than any romance I have read, keenly defines the trappings of manhood and womanhood in society, regardless of time, culture, language... at the heart of a story is a woman, like a few modern women I know, fighting with her own desire to be whole without a man, but once in love or intrigued by love, can no longer deny she has a deep desire to be loved and to be acknowledged in her beauty, intelligence and talents.

Like Elizabeth, Darcy is a man coming to terms with his station as a gentleman... unexpected though she may have been Darcy must, once encountering Elizabeth, deal with her. She is not to be ignored, overlooked or simply, as we find, swept away by a mediocre proposal.

Happily ever after does not mean peace and happiness forever after and I believe, given the whole of P&P that these two will continue to conflict with one another, enjoy the passionate commonalities of their lives and revel in the strengths of the other... as any good marriage would.

More, of course, to come on this most fantastic work.