On Paradox

"It is very hard for a man to defend anything of which he is entirely convinced... a man is not really convinced of a philosophic theory when he finds that something proves it. He is only really convinced when he finds that everything proves it. And the more converging reasons he finds pointing to this conviction, the more bewildered he is if asked suddenly to sum them up. Thus, if one asked an ordinary intelligent man, on the spur of the moment, "Why do you prefer civilization to savagery?" he would look wildly round at object after object, and would only be able to answer vaguely, "Why, there is that bookcase . . . and the coals in the coal-scuttle . . . and pianos . . . and policemen." The whole case for civilization is that the case for it is complex. It has done so many things. But that very multiplicity of proof which ought to make reply overwhelming makes reply impossible."

~Chesterton, Orhthodoxy, The Paradoxes of Christianity.

On Ideals

"Now here comes in the whole collapse and huge blunder of our age. We have mixed up two different things, two opposite things. Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to suit the vision. Progress does mean (just now) that we are always changing the vision. It should mean that we are slow but sure in bringing justice and mercy among men: it does mean that we are very swift in doubting the desirability of justice and mercy... Progress should mean that we are always walking towards the New Jerusalem. It does mean that the New Jerusalem is always walking away from us. We are not altering the real to suit the ideal. We are altering the ideal: it is easier." G.K. Chesterton, Orthdoxoy, The Eternal Revolution.

On Wisdom and the Cost

"You have to learn that you cannot claim a path just because it is less intimidating. You must keep in mind that God does have an appointment with you, that there is a cost to serving Him. At the same time, you have to be wise and not careless. To deny the reality that there are some places where you cannot go is to play the fool. More important, if you have not learned to pay the smaller prices of following Christ in your daily life, you will not be prepared to pay the ultimate price in God's calling." ~Ravi Zacharias, Walking from East to West.

On Humility

A wonderful friend of mine brought be some more books by Ravi Zacharias when she visited from India. I am enjoying one of them now... Walking from East to West is almost a memoir. Still powerfully written, but not as difficult to read as his books on apologetics or philosophy. :)

"Chesterton says, in essence, that there is a dislocation of humility in our times. We have become more confident in who we are and less in what we believe. Our pride has moved us from the organ of conviction to the organ of ambition, when it is intended to be the other way around. In short, our confidence should be in our message and not in ourselves." ~Ravi Zacharias, Walking from East to West.

Cold Weather. Or... Not?

An interesting conversation occurred at my house today as my roommate and I were enjoying the beautiful outdoors while doing some work.

Me: "Are you cold out here? I'm FREEZING."

Roommate: "YES. It's cold!

Me: (checking temperature on computer's desktop gadget) "What? 68 degrees?? It has to be colder than 68 degrees."

Roommate: "Well... there's windchill!"

*long pause*

Me: "Do you find it strange that we're talking about windchill for near-70 degree weather?"

Roommate: "Don't be ridiculous! We are SUFFERING here!"

Me: (after checking several online sites for the temperature): The lowest I can find is 65.5.

Roommate: Do you think people would think we're crazy if we bought an outdoor heater?

I think it is safe to say that we have sufficiently acclimated to the Texas climate. :)

Better than Average

"Average feels safe, but it’s not. It’s invisible. It’s the last choice – the path of least resistance. The temptation to be average is just another kind of quitting…the kind to be avoided. You deserve better than average." ~Seth Godin

Metaphor for Life

"After a few weeks of constant work, the bloody blisters gave way to hard-earned calluses that protected us from pain. Long after the fact, it occurred to me that this was a metaphor for life--blisters come before calluses, vulnerability before maturity..." ~Clarence Thomas, My Grandfather's Son, pg.25.

Forgiveness

‎"Forgiveness is not the misguided act of condoning irresponsible, hurtful behavior. Nor is it a superficial turning of the other cheek that leaves us feeling victimized and martyred. Rather it is the finishing of old business that allows us to experience the present, free of contamination from the past." ~Joan Borysenko