Death

Death is a topic that my finite mind has trouble understanding. It for many years of my life was a fear that seemed to control my decisions. I would always for some reason construct a way to die in situations I was put in. As morbid as that sounds I hope I’m not the only one who did that. Why? Perhaps it was just being a child with a wild imagination. However, I think it was because I thought that the 70 or so years I would be a live would be all there was, and dying young would thwart my success in life. It wasn’t until I grasped the concept of heaven that I could live in freedom, unafraid of death. We shouldn’t fear death, because it was conquered when Jesus rose from the grave. Lewis writes in Miracles that “Death is, in fact, what some modern people call ‘ambivalent’. It is Satan’s great weapon and also God’s great weapon: it is holy and unholy; our supreme disgrace and our only hope; the thing Christ came to conquer and the means by which he conquered.” Should death always be grieved?

I’ve come to realize that death is a part of life. Grieving seems to tail death wherever it goes. In A Greif Observed, Lewis describes “Greif is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.” I think God uses death to wake people up. Also, He uses death to remind us that this life is temporary, and to cling to our heavenly riches rather than the empty earthly heartaches. Granted, our fleshly reaction is to grieve, but we’re called to a higher standard, a heavenly standard. Death brings forth new life. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:25 So death should not be a time of morning, but a time to rejoice with the promise of new life engraved in our hearts and minds.

Reflection on the Cafe

The session in literature on Monday in the café was very encouraging. We all seem to bring something new the table. Andrew was somewhat leading the discussion with his questions. Although we all brought something other than fiction to class it seemed to work well for discussion purposes. The book I brought was called The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. I brought this book because it changed my view on faith. He is a very radical Christian with a heart for the lost. My soul was rocked by the passionate faith he had. The other books brought to the table were The Road, Intercessory Prayer, and From Good to Great. The Road was the only fiction book based on the post Armageddon. It was very interesting, yet it wasn’t very realistic.

I really began to understand the importance of fiction literature. Fiction literature allows the author to speak their mind through other characters. The last fiction book I read was Lord of the Flies. That book I realized the motifs and symbols of the author intends. Furthermore, there are multiple meanings to a symbol like the conch as a symbol of power.

What did I get out of this meeting? I liked the setting outside the classroom. It gave me an opportunity to express myself without feeling obligated. I think my thoughts flow much easier outside of the classroom. I found out that I need to expand my literature outlook. I would only read Christian Inspirational books, however I believe it’s important to read secular books to see another point of view. When sharing the gospel if you relate to someone they are much more receptive to what you are willing to say.

"Happy Endings"

The two main themes of literature described by Professor Corrigan were love and death. When I think about love I think of the Hollywood version; the love that knows no hardships. This kind of fairy-tale love gives me, and I’m sure others, a false sense of love. I am sure that there are relationships like that, but chances are I’m going to have to wake up and smell the roses. I think human love is a process that can always be improved. However, God has perfect, unfailing love to which our finite minds will never understand. This brings me joy to know that my family loves me, but there is a God who loves me with no clauses. Someone brought up in class that other people from other cultures have an apathetic feeling towards love. So when they hear God is love, it doesn’t ring as hopeful or encouraging as it would to someone like me. Through reading short excerpts like Happy Endings they remind me that not everybody has the same background or view as me. Though it was fiction, there is certainly truth to be found. There are people like Mary, who fall in love with a “rat, a pig, a dog” like John but are too stubborn or oblivious to admit it. Like Mary, they are always hoping for better. “This other John will emerge like a butterfly from a cocoon.” This ironic parody on love awakened my soul, because I try to show people love. However, I really don’t know what that looks like. I can assume that it means to care for people more than you care about myself. Every time I talk about love, I can’t help but think of the Fathers love. Happy Endings isn’t the type of story I’d want to read, however I think stories like it are important in understanding different views on love.

Frankie and Johnny... Relationships

The song Frankie and Johnny is an old song about infidelity; written over 100 years ago with lessons and insight applicable in today’s corrupt world. This also shows the timeless nature of literature. I think we, as men, should be held to a higher standard. Our standard should be a heavenly standard that tromps the world standard; especially when it comes to women in our lives.

Why would Johnny leave Frankie for another woman? It’s this false conception that there is always something or someone better out there. This is where I see the need for godly influence in the lives of men. We need to pour out our hopes and dreams into God, and let the things of this world be thrown to the wayside. I’m doing my best to seek God everyday; in turn He is changing my view on life and women. I do my best to treat women with the upmost respect they deserve.

Did Johnny really deserve to die? In some ways yes, Johnny got what was coming to him. If Frankie wouldn’t have found out, Johnny would still be unfaithful, perhaps to another woman besides Nellie Bly. In this relationship Johnny must have had to lie to both women, because I’m not convinced Nellie Bly knew Johnny had a lover. That’s why I believe trust to be the most important aspect of a relationship followed closely by communication. However, I think a relationship should be build around God and the truths that go along side that. I think prayer and friendship is of upmost importance before starting any dating sort of relationship.

I’m pretty curious as to what you think about relationships, because I’m nowhere near perfect when it comes to anything in life especially relationships. And how much do you believe in “soul mates”? And if you could say anything to Frankie or Johnny, what would you say?

Literary Experience

Literature can be expressed in several ways as Professor Corrigan mentioned. My first literary experience was not the usual bedtime story. Rather, my mother would sing me to sleep with a lullaby she wrote for me and my sister. It used the letters of the alphabet, however had personal touches along the way. For example, "N is for Ninety; the year that we came."

My favorite books growing up was the "Nate the Great" series. That series sparked my interest in reading, which continually grows daily.

I never appreciated literature until i understood the literary devices like irony, metaphors, allegories, among others. The book i realized that reading and literature were more than entertainment was A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Not that it wasn't entertaining, but there is so much more in literature that I realize. This book would have to be the most significant, because it changed my view so radically.

The beauty of literature is that the same text can be interpreted several different ways. My most recent memories include the rereading of Psalms. This is a prime example for the ambiguity of literature. Every time i read Psalms I get something new or applicable to my life yet the Psalms never change. This also seguays into the impact literature has on me. Literature changes my life perspective through quotes, pictures, books, paintings, movies, music.