Your post encourages me to connect some unsatisfactorily disparate strands in my own life. Some of the times I have been happiest and felt closest to God have been when I've been in the Aikido or kenjutsu dojo, leaving calculation behind and training to move by instinct, and when I was out in the woods or up mountains on exercise as a chaplain to the Army Cadets, praying with the cadets from the battered little Prayer Book that fitted into my smock's field dressing pocket. I can vouch that what you say about soldiers often find God in the field. It's no coincidence that Our Lord admires the faith of the Centurion and speaks to fishermen, farmers and housewives in language they understand. And yet I am also a man of the head, and a student of Dionysius - but he cautions us always to go beyond the rational and calculative, which can get us only so far in our knowledge of God, but then hits the cloud of darkness like a great brick wall.
Yes. I was always fond of The Cloud of Unknowing, and that sort of mysticism. I too have always felt like the various portions of my life were disconnected. Only now am I beginning to see how they might be made to fit. I suppose that is a kind of holiness, in a way, to make one’s life whole.
I think we are to hit the rock of offense, the stumbling block, the Skandalon, the Son of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah - the Man who is the glory of God, fully alive, the Man who is Deity, the Deity who is man, , a life giving Spirit eternally with flesh and bones with the specific taste of Jesus of Nazareth who gives us the fire of the Holy Spirit in our bodies and at his discretion reveals the Ancient of Days, his Father, this is what is clearly presented in the Bible, a whole lot of fun, not the Cloud of Unknowing and neo-platonic philosophy, but I understand that this is a hard pill to swallow as being foolishness to the Greeks, and as it says in a parable told by Jesus, some people said, “We will not have this man to be king over us”
Well, yes, but... Our Lord spoke to fishermen, farmers and housewives, for sure, but He also taught the rabbis in the Temple, and whomever He spoke to, he made frequent reference to a vast tradition of what we now think of as both canonical and non-canonical texts, many of which cross right over the imagined line between "Hebraism" and "Hellenism." Even the canonical scriptures, translated into or written in Greek, are thoroughly intermingled with Greek learning (not to mention Egyptian etc.). The triumph of Christianity was that it almost made complete sense to the Greeks: the foolishness for them was the Incarnation. Without Greek learning, there would be no St Augustine, no St Athanasius, no creeds, possibly even no concept of the Trinity. To posit a stark divide between Greek learning and "the Bible" is to suggest that we know the faith better than the Church Fathers, including some among the first generation after the Apostles. I don't buy it!
Yes it seems so. The Word is a ray of that truth which enlightens all people, across the millennia, cultures, traditions, disciplines and traditions. Nothing human can box it. Maybe all we know for sure is that we’re known and loved fiercely. Mysterious and awe/fear inspiring.
The Logos was indeed present before He was given flesh. Taoism is an excellent example of this - Lao Tzu's doctrine of the Way even describes God as a Trinity!
Precisely. Paul does not criticize the Stoics or Epicureans for their moral virtue in Acts, only their theology and stance that God is "unknown". Some of Seneca's writings to Lucilius could've easily been mistaken as Apostolic by readers of the time. Notable early Fathers like St. Justin Martyr (Justin the Philosopher) echo these sentiments.
“The glory of God is a man fully alive” quote from an early church father. David was a renaissance man, accomplished sheep herder, killer of predatory animals, skilled slinger of stone, harpist, singer, poet, mystical knower of the Living God, a man of prayer, designed the temple liturgy, king, judge, general, leader of rough men, strategist, tactician, warrior, fighter, administrator - pre organized all the supplies for a Solomon to build the temple, lover of women - had multiple wives and concubines, an architect, wily politician and diplomat, mafia chieftain on his deathbed making sure old scores are settled after he is gone, and more. This is a man after God’s own heart.
"Maybe instead God is in the moment of making love with wild abandon, or giving birth, or in dying, or in the heady rush of blood that swells up in your chest as you try to summit a mountain or free dive for a pearl." That, Yoshi, is pure poetic gorgeousness. Thanks for this essay -- much to revel in. (I was going to say "think about," but decided that you're so right: stepping out of our heads is where it's at.)
Just read this by Wendell Berry and it touches a similar theme:
“I don’t think it is enough appreciated how much an outdoor book the Bible is....It is best read and understood outdoors, and the farther outdoors the better. Or that has been my experience of it. Passages that within walls seem improbable or incredible, outdoors seem merely natural. This is because outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders.”
Annie Dillard in her Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, described the start of her journey, through daily walks in nature, while posing large questions about the nature of God and wilderness. Blending research into the natural world, philosophy and examination of the dualities of nature and the divine and meaning in both beauty and cruelty, dovetails nicely with this sub stack.
I put myself into forced trials and such - to find god... and I did. Im now writing about it.
I still force myself out of my pampered suburban life and into the wilderness to remember god as you describe. Thanks, for writing this. It was perfect.
WOW!! This post gave voice to something I’ve been feeling for a long while; your words are powerful and ring true. I left a career as a psychotherapist last August and in December stopped being vegan. Those two things may not seem related, but both are a step away from being in my head and moving towards a fully embodied existence. I have also started doing physical work 2-3 days a week and am slowly developing a body based intelligence, one I felt fully as a child decades ago. Thank you Yoshi for this wisdom. I feel renewed and somehow validated on my life’s journey which day by day is bringing me out of my head and closer to God. Blessings to you and your readers.
Nature is red in tooth and claw, one creature’s living is contingent on another’s dying and without shedding of blood, forgiveness just ain’t possible. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.”
You’re definitely right in that humans today are stuck inside our heads too much. But you misunderstand that Matthew 11 verse. Jesus talks about those who try to set up the kingdom by their own terms and though violence, and how the kingdom suffered that violence. Read the verse; why would Christ say ”From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.“ Do Christians make the Kingdom suffer?
Violence is antithetical to everything Christ lived and died for. And for those who bear His name to engage in it is to work against Him. As His followers we are not the spear; we, like Christ for whom death was a stepping stone, become the shield against which the spear breaks and is made useless. Love, peace, and all goodness cannot and will not be found in the killing of those made in God’s image. God Himself died so there would be an end to wickedness. Let His death be enough.
Brilliant essay, Yoshi. Though my intuitions have always gone somewhat down this same path, I’ve never thought about it, or heard it articulated, in this way. Of course Conan must be closer to the spirit of Christ than Onan. Brilliant! (Can I rob this idea for a future homily???)
Ironically, Sylvester Stallone in First Blood was closer to the original concept of Conan.
He was like a non-verbal animal being judged and persecuted by a civilized world after they no longer needed his brutal services in the war.
This article is by far your best in regards to being close to the true target. Other articles have been great and even more entertaining but this one is an achievement.
Your post encourages me to connect some unsatisfactorily disparate strands in my own life. Some of the times I have been happiest and felt closest to God have been when I've been in the Aikido or kenjutsu dojo, leaving calculation behind and training to move by instinct, and when I was out in the woods or up mountains on exercise as a chaplain to the Army Cadets, praying with the cadets from the battered little Prayer Book that fitted into my smock's field dressing pocket. I can vouch that what you say about soldiers often find God in the field. It's no coincidence that Our Lord admires the faith of the Centurion and speaks to fishermen, farmers and housewives in language they understand. And yet I am also a man of the head, and a student of Dionysius - but he cautions us always to go beyond the rational and calculative, which can get us only so far in our knowledge of God, but then hits the cloud of darkness like a great brick wall.
Yes. I was always fond of The Cloud of Unknowing, and that sort of mysticism. I too have always felt like the various portions of my life were disconnected. Only now am I beginning to see how they might be made to fit. I suppose that is a kind of holiness, in a way, to make one’s life whole.
I think we are to hit the rock of offense, the stumbling block, the Skandalon, the Son of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah - the Man who is the glory of God, fully alive, the Man who is Deity, the Deity who is man, , a life giving Spirit eternally with flesh and bones with the specific taste of Jesus of Nazareth who gives us the fire of the Holy Spirit in our bodies and at his discretion reveals the Ancient of Days, his Father, this is what is clearly presented in the Bible, a whole lot of fun, not the Cloud of Unknowing and neo-platonic philosophy, but I understand that this is a hard pill to swallow as being foolishness to the Greeks, and as it says in a parable told by Jesus, some people said, “We will not have this man to be king over us”
Well, yes, but... Our Lord spoke to fishermen, farmers and housewives, for sure, but He also taught the rabbis in the Temple, and whomever He spoke to, he made frequent reference to a vast tradition of what we now think of as both canonical and non-canonical texts, many of which cross right over the imagined line between "Hebraism" and "Hellenism." Even the canonical scriptures, translated into or written in Greek, are thoroughly intermingled with Greek learning (not to mention Egyptian etc.). The triumph of Christianity was that it almost made complete sense to the Greeks: the foolishness for them was the Incarnation. Without Greek learning, there would be no St Augustine, no St Athanasius, no creeds, possibly even no concept of the Trinity. To posit a stark divide between Greek learning and "the Bible" is to suggest that we know the faith better than the Church Fathers, including some among the first generation after the Apostles. I don't buy it!
Yes it seems so. The Word is a ray of that truth which enlightens all people, across the millennia, cultures, traditions, disciplines and traditions. Nothing human can box it. Maybe all we know for sure is that we’re known and loved fiercely. Mysterious and awe/fear inspiring.
The Logos was indeed present before He was given flesh. Taoism is an excellent example of this - Lao Tzu's doctrine of the Way even describes God as a Trinity!
Precisely. Paul does not criticize the Stoics or Epicureans for their moral virtue in Acts, only their theology and stance that God is "unknown". Some of Seneca's writings to Lucilius could've easily been mistaken as Apostolic by readers of the time. Notable early Fathers like St. Justin Martyr (Justin the Philosopher) echo these sentiments.
So true. I think Acts 17:23 referencing the unknown god, speaks to this also. So good to be reminded of perspectives :)
“The glory of God is a man fully alive” quote from an early church father. David was a renaissance man, accomplished sheep herder, killer of predatory animals, skilled slinger of stone, harpist, singer, poet, mystical knower of the Living God, a man of prayer, designed the temple liturgy, king, judge, general, leader of rough men, strategist, tactician, warrior, fighter, administrator - pre organized all the supplies for a Solomon to build the temple, lover of women - had multiple wives and concubines, an architect, wily politician and diplomat, mafia chieftain on his deathbed making sure old scores are settled after he is gone, and more. This is a man after God’s own heart.
"Maybe instead God is in the moment of making love with wild abandon, or giving birth, or in dying, or in the heady rush of blood that swells up in your chest as you try to summit a mountain or free dive for a pearl." That, Yoshi, is pure poetic gorgeousness. Thanks for this essay -- much to revel in. (I was going to say "think about," but decided that you're so right: stepping out of our heads is where it's at.)
Thank you for the kind words. Poetic bursts are too common with me so it’s nice to hear some are at least appreciated.
I absolutely loved this. Could not in a million years said it better.
Thank you.
Just read this by Wendell Berry and it touches a similar theme:
“I don’t think it is enough appreciated how much an outdoor book the Bible is....It is best read and understood outdoors, and the farther outdoors the better. Or that has been my experience of it. Passages that within walls seem improbable or incredible, outdoors seem merely natural. This is because outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders.”
Wonderful article, thank you!
Annie Dillard in her Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, described the start of her journey, through daily walks in nature, while posing large questions about the nature of God and wilderness. Blending research into the natural world, philosophy and examination of the dualities of nature and the divine and meaning in both beauty and cruelty, dovetails nicely with this sub stack.
I put myself into forced trials and such - to find god... and I did. Im now writing about it.
I still force myself out of my pampered suburban life and into the wilderness to remember god as you describe. Thanks, for writing this. It was perfect.
WOW!! This post gave voice to something I’ve been feeling for a long while; your words are powerful and ring true. I left a career as a psychotherapist last August and in December stopped being vegan. Those two things may not seem related, but both are a step away from being in my head and moving towards a fully embodied existence. I have also started doing physical work 2-3 days a week and am slowly developing a body based intelligence, one I felt fully as a child decades ago. Thank you Yoshi for this wisdom. I feel renewed and somehow validated on my life’s journey which day by day is bringing me out of my head and closer to God. Blessings to you and your readers.
Nature is red in tooth and claw, one creature’s living is contingent on another’s dying and without shedding of blood, forgiveness just ain’t possible. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:21
You’re definitely right in that humans today are stuck inside our heads too much. But you misunderstand that Matthew 11 verse. Jesus talks about those who try to set up the kingdom by their own terms and though violence, and how the kingdom suffered that violence. Read the verse; why would Christ say ”From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.“ Do Christians make the Kingdom suffer?
Violence is antithetical to everything Christ lived and died for. And for those who bear His name to engage in it is to work against Him. As His followers we are not the spear; we, like Christ for whom death was a stepping stone, become the shield against which the spear breaks and is made useless. Love, peace, and all goodness cannot and will not be found in the killing of those made in God’s image. God Himself died so there would be an end to wickedness. Let His death be enough.
You should read the story of the Levites, they were a bunch of zealous guard dogs of Gods tabernacle. I love it!
Brilliant essay, Yoshi. Though my intuitions have always gone somewhat down this same path, I’ve never thought about it, or heard it articulated, in this way. Of course Conan must be closer to the spirit of Christ than Onan. Brilliant! (Can I rob this idea for a future homily???)
Absolutely, be my guest, and thank you for the compliments.
Ironically, Sylvester Stallone in First Blood was closer to the original concept of Conan.
He was like a non-verbal animal being judged and persecuted by a civilized world after they no longer needed his brutal services in the war.
This article is by far your best in regards to being close to the true target. Other articles have been great and even more entertaining but this one is an achievement.
This article is this missing link between BAP and Christianity.