Simply perfect
This is a series of "I wonder" statements ... This simplicity of a focused, complete, clear, and accurately targeted essay ... I wonder, where have these gone? While growing up I was hugely influenced by the essay form of writing from the pre-internet era. The classic example is, of course, C.S. Lewis' essays, but there are many others. It strikes me that there is limited visibility for such composition - not a complete lack, as one finds them if one searches. But the deep, reflective, and thoughtful essays ... not theological treatises, not news commentary, not "in my opinion" ... these seems to be buried in (or in competition with?) the easy-to-access blogosphere. I wonder if there is a need for more insightful writing that brings a Christ-relationship to bear on the concerns of the day (Like Lewis' "Religion and Rocketry"). Or is the need really to uncover such writing in the plethora of essay-length yet transient blog opinions. So I wonder if the blog is the contemporary equivalent for such creative writing? If so, and with the ease and exposure of blogs, is the theological thoughtfulness of such writing comparable to the essays of yesteryear? For myself I find the writing of blog-based "essays" to be hugely helpful in crystallizing my understanding of issues - my blog writing is for myself first and foremost. I wonder what the motivation of pre-internet essayists was, and what really is at the heart of the motivation for most modern day bloggers? Pre-internet essays often catalyzed, or were a response to, other peoples essays - it was like beautiful dialogue in slow motion. Sometimes even books were the dialogue, such as Chesterton's "Heretics" and "Orthodoxy" (my top two favorite books) which were in large part written in response to the writings of G.B. Shaw. But I wonder if todays blogs have the same power to catalyze thoughtful composition and response by others? I wonder ... are the essay writers of today mostly just strategic competitors fighting for ego-presence in the noise? I wonder ...
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Why?
Probably the best therapy is to express yourself. Why do you think psychiatrists make you lie on the couch and talk, while all they do is murmur "hmmm", "uhuh", or "go on"? Archives
May 2017
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