Wilberforce on Selfishness

Some wise words from a wise man.

"However the external effects [of selfishness] may vary, the internal principle is the same. It is the despotism in each one to make self the great center and end of his desires and pleasures. It is the tendency to overrate his own merits and importance, and of course to magnify his claims on others and to underrate their on him. It is the disposition to undervalue the advantages and to overstate the disadvantages of his condition in life.

It is important to notice how much Christianity in every way is set in direct hostility to selfishness. . .One may almost say that the main object and chief concern of real Christianity is to root out our natural selfishness and to correct the false standard it would impose upon us. Christianity seeks to bring us to a just estimate of ourselves, and of all around us."
~William Wilberforce

. . . . .

Well it's many a day I've traveled a hundred miles or more,
But a baby boy with his whiskers on I never saw before.

Props to you if you can identify that song. :)
.

Words Worth Saying

I had my dear friend Julia over this weekend. What a joy it was to spend Friday evening and most of Saturday with her!

I'm taking this opportunity to honor you, Julia, for how carefully you choose your words and for how you seek to use them for others' good. You always have something worthwhile to say about the topic at hand. It's a credit to you (and to God's grace upon you) that I can say this: it is easy to have a "good conversation" when you're around. I never have to dig or prod; I don't have to invent deep conversation topics. You look for a deeper meaning behind everything you see, instead of skimming over the surface as our culture would have us do. Because of your hunger for truth, you can make connections and share insights about almost anything, from drinking coffee to choosing a church . :) My life is richer and more thoughtful because of your friendship. And so I thank God for you!

Chesterton on the Beauty of Ordinary Life

"A Ballade of Suicide"

The gallows in my garden, people say,
Is new and neat and adequately tall;
I tie the noose on in a knowing way
As one that knots his necktie for a ball;
But just as all the neighbours--on the wall--
Are drawing a long breath to shout "Hurray!"
The strangest whim has seized me. . . . After all
I think I will not hang myself to-day.


To-morrow is the time I get my pay--
My uncle's sword is hanging in the hall--
I see a little cloud all pink and grey--
Perhaps the rector's mother will NOT call--
I fancy that I heard from Mr. Gall
That mushrooms could be cooked another way--
I never read the works of Juvenal--
I think I will not hang myself to-day.


The world will have another washing-day;
The decadents decay; the pedants pall;
And H.G. Wells has found that children play,
And Bernard Shaw discovered that they squall;
Rationalists are growing rational--
And through thick woods one finds a stream astray,
So secret that the very sky seems small--
I think I will not hang myself to-day.

Envoi
Prince, I can hear the trumpet of Germinal,
The tumbrils toiling up the terrible way;
Even to-day your royal head may fall--
I think I will not hang myself to-day.

~G.K. Chesterton

Reasons to Study History

Here is a very thoughtful, persuasive article by Tim Challies on why Christians should study history.

I appreciate the fact that Challies doesn't just feed us the typical modern reason: "Because then we can avoid the mistakes of the past!" What narrow-minded, pompous Progressive nonsense. If that's your only rationale for studying history, it implies that in your mind, everyone before you was a blundering idiot, with nothing admirable to imitate. Instead, Challies reminds us of everything we can and should learn by the positive example of our forerunners, not just by their mistakes.

http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/seven-reasons-to-study-the-churchs-past.php

(HT: Scriptorium Daily)
.

Playing Pretend

I've forgotten how to play.

I re-discover this every time I come home. Board games, I can do; reading books aloud, sure; drawing maps and making up stories, no problem. I can build sandcastles and Lego castles without batting an eyelash. Croquet and badminton are fun. We can go on a hike and I'll have a blast. Basically, give me a set of rules or some clear objective, and I'm up to the task.

But when it comes to open-ended free time, just "playing pretend," I feel lost. "Let's go outside and play!" What does that mean? I can invent a whole world on paper, and tell all sorts of stories about adventures in my head, but I have no idea how to act them out. I guess I used to be able to immerse myself in a made-up world and become an Arctic explorer, pirate captain, or Amazon warrior princess all afternoon. Not anymore. If I try, I just feel fake, and nobody has much fun.

Sometimes I feel that I'm letting my little siblings down because I can't sincerely "pretend" with them. And I worry that someday, I'll be a bad mom if I don't learn how to play in a different way. But then I remember that my gracious Lord gives the ability and inspiration for everything to which He calls His children. He has already enabled me to do (and to enjoy doing) so many things, like writing stories that little children love, and showing them how to make grilled cheese, and reading books to them in a big fluffy chair.

So if I'm ever supposed to be an Arctic explorer, I guess He'll tell me how to do it.

.