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March 30, 2007

driving force

Oh driving force of ambitious life
flow on, empower and consume my slothful soul.
Create more, think more, achieve more.

Yet, give me moments to rest and be
just me under the elder tree
Surrounded only by what I can see
Captured by the light within me.

Linger on dear moments of serenity
Before tidal waves of forceful resolve
encompasses my mind
back down to assumed freeways of accomplishment.

Posted by Jamaica at 12:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 16, 2007

celibacy

In the chapter on celibacy in Henri Nouwen’s book, Clowning in Rome, he utilizes Thomas Aquinas’ definition of celibacy as a vacancy for God to recommend it as an appropriate pursuit for married individuals. Leaving an open space in one’s life and marriage reflects one’s belief in a love that transcends human intimacy. Once this space is created we leave open the possibility for God to fill parts of our relational cavity inaccessible to human grasp. Procuring this vacancy is difficult not only due to its practical definition and maintenance, but due also to the disquieting fear that God won’t show or that he won’t be enough. Go on then unsettled soul and pursue this emptying, for the fulfillment of the world has already expired..

Posted by Jamaica Abare at 2:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 9, 2007

the right patriotism

Lincoln's sentiments during the civil war, "Do not say that God is on our side. Let us hope that we are on God's side" encapsulates the needed distinction I feel that needs to be made in today's context between an admirable and an uncritical form of patriotism. Desiring that one's country embody values like liberty and justice for all, and being proud of one's nation when it defends these ideas is a healthy way to be a patriot. If, however one chooses to be proud of one's country without concern over whether the state is upholding the values that formed one's love of country, ones patriotism becomes suspect. We must love our country because it embraces and displays certain values, and when these values are undermined we must love our country enough to criticize compromise. Presumably the values of the country that turned us into patriots were embraced on the basis of criteria independent of any nation state.

Posted by Jamaica Abare at 5:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack