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The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
"TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20"
"Life begins at the intersection, what direction? What direction? What direction now? - Jon Foreman
Life is a constant intersection. Every moment causes the next, every breath is exhaled to breathe again, destruction gives birth to creation, and each moment influences how we consider the world. Who are you? Which Road will you take? What scenes will flood your eyes, what words will fall from your mouth, what thoughts will captivate your mind, what loves will dominate your heart?
More importantly, have you ever stopped at the intersection in order to think first? Do you consider who put those paths there in the first place, and who's going to be waiting at the end to greet you? Who's path are you taking, and where does it lead to?
"But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." - Matthew 7:13
Will you?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Absolute Truth (WIP)
“Men have talked about the world without paying attention to the world or to their own minds, as if they were asleep or absent-minded.” - Heraclitus
The idea of absolute truth, a constant, stagnant, restricting truth, has gained a negative connotation in today’s world. People live their lives every day in avoidance of any certain truth, or purpose, which must be adhered to. Absolute is a word for religion, for Bible-pushers, for those who wish to by-pass the pleasures of life and ignore the wisdom of carpe diem. Qualitative statements are made by persons based on experiences, right? We’ve all become empiricists observing our own little worlds. If we all determine quality based on our subjective input, then isn’t right/wrong based on the individual? Forget the idea that rights and wrongs will collide and interfere with each other; we can all accept that with a little tolerance.
Such a world view presents a problem though, a serious issue. The underlying assumption of the “tolerance” argument, of the “no absolutes” idea, is not spoken, is in fact ignored, un-thought about, and disregarded, because to consider the idea of moral relativism is to uncover a contradiction. This contradiction is that stating the idea that “there is no absolute truth” is itself an absolute. The complete statement would look something like this: “It is an absolute truth that there is no absolute truth.” For indeed, if the argument against absolute truth is not in itself absolute, then it holds that there is room for absolute truth; and given any room for existence, absolute truth then rules out the idea of relevant truth. In essence, unless the statement against absolute truth is absolute itself, then it allows an opening for its defeat. Yet, if the statement is absolute, then by definition it defeats itself by contradiction. The idea that “there is no absolute truth” is an absolute truth, is self-defeating, illogical, foolish.
We are faced with only two choices in determining the existence of absolute truth. By definition of “absolute,” truth must exist, or not. If an absolute doesn’t exist all the time, for everyone, then it doesn’t exist all; which, as stated previously, is itself an absolute, and thus contradicts the notion of no absolute truth. Therefore we can either accept, or reject absolute truth. However, rejecting absolute truth requires a belief in absolute truth by which to deny its existence, and thus we really only have one option: to accept absolute truth as present, real, existence, for all people at all times. It may be asked, “But perhaps absolute truth is a new idea, one that did not exist in ancient times.” If there is an absolute truth, then it must have existed forever; it must be eternal, and beyond space and time. A non-eternal absolute truth is no different than a relevant truth.
Besides the fact that the existence absolute truth cannot be argued without a contradiction, absolute truth can be found in qualitative statements. When we make a statement about a thing’s quality, or correctness, we do so against the standard of absolute truth. Our views are based on an attempt to qualify a thing as true in the absolute sense. If truth was relevant, there would be no need to discuss, or claim it of anything. Each person would simply figure it out for themselves and that would be all that was needed. What would be the use of claiming one thing as truth, and another as false, if it did not matter in an absolute sense? How could one even start to form an argument when everything that one would use as support would only be true, relevant, and supportive for himself? When others heard the argument, not only would the claim be false for them, but all the support could be incorrect as well.
Teachers incorporate such an idea of absolute truth when they hand out tests for students. Each question has a true answer, and all questions being answered correctly is the absolute truth. When a teacher grades a test, she is making a qualitative statement about the answers that the student has given, and she determines the correctness based on the absolute truth of the test. The teacher then assigns a grade, usually a percentage, to show the student how close to the absolute truth he was. In the larger sense, we state that certain actions are good, and certain beliefs true, in an attempt to answer the test of life as closely to the absolute truth as possible. We make qualitative statements in our effort to receive a 100% grade on our assignment.
Following this analogy, we must ask who gave us the test in the first place. Who assigned absolute truth, and who will grade it when we are done and hand in the test? If absolute truth is eternal, and in a sense “outside this world”-in reference to our limitations of space and time, then the origin must also be eternal. It is foolish to consider that a being non-eternal could create something eternal; he would have no sense of eternity unless he himself could last forever outside of worldly restrictions. This is not to say that the being is beyond absolute truth however, as if he could somehow act in a way that did not follow absolute truth. Instead, because he created absolute truth, he must also determine it. Or perhaps it’s more accurately stated that absolute truth is determined by him, by his nature and who he is. Absolute truth is not so much a separate entity then, as it is simply the way things are, the way they must be in accordance with how this eternal being operates.
The idea of absolute truth, a constant, stagnant, restricting truth, has gained a negative connotation in today’s world. People live their lives every day in avoidance of any certain truth, or purpose, which must be adhered to. Absolute is a word for religion, for Bible-pushers, for those who wish to by-pass the pleasures of life and ignore the wisdom of carpe diem. Qualitative statements are made by persons based on experiences, right? We’ve all become empiricists observing our own little worlds. If we all determine quality based on our subjective input, then isn’t right/wrong based on the individual? Forget the idea that rights and wrongs will collide and interfere with each other; we can all accept that with a little tolerance.
Such a world view presents a problem though, a serious issue. The underlying assumption of the “tolerance” argument, of the “no absolutes” idea, is not spoken, is in fact ignored, un-thought about, and disregarded, because to consider the idea of moral relativism is to uncover a contradiction. This contradiction is that stating the idea that “there is no absolute truth” is itself an absolute. The complete statement would look something like this: “It is an absolute truth that there is no absolute truth.” For indeed, if the argument against absolute truth is not in itself absolute, then it holds that there is room for absolute truth; and given any room for existence, absolute truth then rules out the idea of relevant truth. In essence, unless the statement against absolute truth is absolute itself, then it allows an opening for its defeat. Yet, if the statement is absolute, then by definition it defeats itself by contradiction. The idea that “there is no absolute truth” is an absolute truth, is self-defeating, illogical, foolish.
We are faced with only two choices in determining the existence of absolute truth. By definition of “absolute,” truth must exist, or not. If an absolute doesn’t exist all the time, for everyone, then it doesn’t exist all; which, as stated previously, is itself an absolute, and thus contradicts the notion of no absolute truth. Therefore we can either accept, or reject absolute truth. However, rejecting absolute truth requires a belief in absolute truth by which to deny its existence, and thus we really only have one option: to accept absolute truth as present, real, existence, for all people at all times. It may be asked, “But perhaps absolute truth is a new idea, one that did not exist in ancient times.” If there is an absolute truth, then it must have existed forever; it must be eternal, and beyond space and time. A non-eternal absolute truth is no different than a relevant truth.
Besides the fact that the existence absolute truth cannot be argued without a contradiction, absolute truth can be found in qualitative statements. When we make a statement about a thing’s quality, or correctness, we do so against the standard of absolute truth. Our views are based on an attempt to qualify a thing as true in the absolute sense. If truth was relevant, there would be no need to discuss, or claim it of anything. Each person would simply figure it out for themselves and that would be all that was needed. What would be the use of claiming one thing as truth, and another as false, if it did not matter in an absolute sense? How could one even start to form an argument when everything that one would use as support would only be true, relevant, and supportive for himself? When others heard the argument, not only would the claim be false for them, but all the support could be incorrect as well.
Teachers incorporate such an idea of absolute truth when they hand out tests for students. Each question has a true answer, and all questions being answered correctly is the absolute truth. When a teacher grades a test, she is making a qualitative statement about the answers that the student has given, and she determines the correctness based on the absolute truth of the test. The teacher then assigns a grade, usually a percentage, to show the student how close to the absolute truth he was. In the larger sense, we state that certain actions are good, and certain beliefs true, in an attempt to answer the test of life as closely to the absolute truth as possible. We make qualitative statements in our effort to receive a 100% grade on our assignment.
Following this analogy, we must ask who gave us the test in the first place. Who assigned absolute truth, and who will grade it when we are done and hand in the test? If absolute truth is eternal, and in a sense “outside this world”-in reference to our limitations of space and time, then the origin must also be eternal. It is foolish to consider that a being non-eternal could create something eternal; he would have no sense of eternity unless he himself could last forever outside of worldly restrictions. This is not to say that the being is beyond absolute truth however, as if he could somehow act in a way that did not follow absolute truth. Instead, because he created absolute truth, he must also determine it. Or perhaps it’s more accurately stated that absolute truth is determined by him, by his nature and who he is. Absolute truth is not so much a separate entity then, as it is simply the way things are, the way they must be in accordance with how this eternal being operates.
A Collection
Here is a collection of some of my writings that I want to share with others. I find that writing is a great way to connect with others, so any comments, thoughts, etc that you wish to share after reading these words, I would love to hear them.
Love Sold Cold
Love is moving shaking hurting, love is bending breaking burning, love is asking missing kissing and you don't know what you've been told but someone here is getting sold to lies and and pain, my eyes are sending to my brain images of a broken heart with wings made of flowers from the start. Where Happy goes, no one knows and he don't know what he's been told but someone here is getting sold to all that this cold life is not, to gravity and separate pots, to "let's do this and not get caught." You make life easy, please don't appease me, reveal to me why you want to breathe for me when all I do is think for me and live my life happily. I want the pain and the stress with all the patient duress while I live in Your Love and ask Your forgiveness and I finally know what I've been told but someone here's already sold.
Hands of the Guilty
Love is moving shaking hurting, love is bending breaking burning, love is asking missing kissing and you don't know what you've been told but someone here is getting sold to lies and and pain, my eyes are sending to my brain images of a broken heart with wings made of flowers from the start. Where Happy goes, no one knows and he don't know what he's been told but someone here is getting sold to all that this cold life is not, to gravity and separate pots, to "let's do this and not get caught." You make life easy, please don't appease me, reveal to me why you want to breathe for me when all I do is think for me and live my life happily. I want the pain and the stress with all the patient duress while I live in Your Love and ask Your forgiveness and I finally know what I've been told but someone here's already sold.
Hands of the Guilty
All my life I’ve run for you,
but I have tripped and fallen too.
I have stumbled and been knocked down to your feet.
I called out to you in my distress,
you heard my plea and then regressed
to the place where I had wandered off the road.
I am not innocent. I am not holy,
So I throw up the hands of the guilty to arms that can hold me.
Don’t let me fall, don’t let me fall away.
These are the prayers of a guilty man to the one with love in his hands.
Don’t let me fall, don’t let me fall away.
Hear my prayer, hear my prayer.
My faith is drenched in blood you bled me
free of all my weakness, free of all my sin.
I work to praise your name, I sing songs to the heavens,
but every word I speak to you is a contradiction.
Hear the prayers of a guilty man to the one with love in his hands.
Don’t let me fall, don’t let me fall away,
as I throw up the hands of the guilty, to arms that can hold me.
Don’t let me fall, don’t let me fall away.
Hear my prayer
I met this day on a lonely road
Between the two places that I call home.
He was waiting there for me –
Testing whether or not I could see
The reason for my coming here
Or the way that I appeared.
I knew not from whence I came,
But that soon was remedied by the same
As I glanced about and knew my place
Beside the shattered human race.
Juxtaposed here I knew that I
Had come from life and was thus to die.
This worried me not, this tragic fate,
Though some would scorn and others hate.
My Father must have sent me here,
Yes, it all becomes quite clear.
This day shall not withhold from me
All fire, earth, or wind or sea.
This day shall take what I cannot keep
But it shall not cause my heart to weep,
For in return humanity may choose
To forever gain what it can never lose.
And that, I think, is greater still
Than living for a heartless thrill.
I shall come back, I am not gone,
I am the now Awakening Dawn.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Jonah
Man, two posts in one night, sorry for that. This thought just came to me but it's a little large to simply add to my last post even though it's the same idea.
Anyway, in response to running from fear, I'm reminded of Jonah who ran from his task from God. He feared the reaction of the people and who knows what else. But in the end God reaches those He loves and leads them to complete the tasks He calls them to.
As Niccolo Machiavelli said, "The wise man does at once what the fool does finally."
Or as one of my favorite authors, J.R.R Tolkien says, "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."
Don't leave God behind in your life.
Anyway, in response to running from fear, I'm reminded of Jonah who ran from his task from God. He feared the reaction of the people and who knows what else. But in the end God reaches those He loves and leads them to complete the tasks He calls them to.
As Niccolo Machiavelli said, "The wise man does at once what the fool does finally."
Or as one of my favorite authors, J.R.R Tolkien says, "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."
Don't leave God behind in your life.
"This is Sparta!"
"Go tell the Spartans, passerby,
That here, by Spartan law, we lie."
The above is a translation of the inscription that was left on an epitaph for the 300 dead Spartans at Thermopylae. My focus however is on what Spartan law actually is, rather than on the battle itself. In the movie 300 it's stated that Spartan law forbids both surrender and retreat from battle. While that belief may not have been a strict law (the Spartans had no written laws), it is indeed the general Spartan attitude. However, retreat and surrender both have their place in following Jesus (retreating from sin/temptation and surrendering to God) I believe Spartan "law" applies to us in some ways.
My example for the application of this "law" is going to be our fears as humans. First, we all fear at least SOMETHING, and we usually fear many things. Now, the classic individualist will tell us that some fears are not "bad", they are simply a part of who we are and something we have to live with. However, this is completely wrong as the only thing we should fear is God. The Bible is filled with verses on fearing the Lord, and not needing to fear ANYTHING else in this world if we have faith in Jesus. So this makes the rest of our fears problems that in one way or another affect our lives - usually for the worse. It's possible to fear many things in this world before we commit them fully to God: we can fear people, fear being alone, fear talking about certain subjects, fear certain situations, fear commitment, fear criticism, and the list goes on. It's true that generally these fears aren't "wrong" to the point where our lives will be ruined but they are not beneficial to us in any regard.
This is where Spartan law applies. The answer to a fear and problem isn't to retreat, nor surrender; instead we must stand firm and face it like King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans facing 300,000 Persian warriors. It may seem impossibly hard to seriously consider what we fear and try to correct it, and that's because it's usually a large and defining part of us. For the non-math people out there, the Spartans were faced with a ratio of one man to every one THOUSAND Persians; and that's exactly what our odds feel like trying to face fears alone. But when we turn to God, our only true fear, and love, and ask Him for His help, the odds are all in our favor. And that's exactly what we must do, turn and face our fears with God in the lead - no running away, no hiding, no giving up, just fighting. It will bring struggle, it will bring pain, and it will bring out a warrior who is stronger and better equipped to serve God without the burden of fear.
Once again this post got long but I hope I stated my point and didn't wander too much.
In short, never retreat and never surrender to fear, only fight it with God.
That here, by Spartan law, we lie."
The above is a translation of the inscription that was left on an epitaph for the 300 dead Spartans at Thermopylae. My focus however is on what Spartan law actually is, rather than on the battle itself. In the movie 300 it's stated that Spartan law forbids both surrender and retreat from battle. While that belief may not have been a strict law (the Spartans had no written laws), it is indeed the general Spartan attitude. However, retreat and surrender both have their place in following Jesus (retreating from sin/temptation and surrendering to God) I believe Spartan "law" applies to us in some ways.
My example for the application of this "law" is going to be our fears as humans. First, we all fear at least SOMETHING, and we usually fear many things. Now, the classic individualist will tell us that some fears are not "bad", they are simply a part of who we are and something we have to live with. However, this is completely wrong as the only thing we should fear is God. The Bible is filled with verses on fearing the Lord, and not needing to fear ANYTHING else in this world if we have faith in Jesus. So this makes the rest of our fears problems that in one way or another affect our lives - usually for the worse. It's possible to fear many things in this world before we commit them fully to God: we can fear people, fear being alone, fear talking about certain subjects, fear certain situations, fear commitment, fear criticism, and the list goes on. It's true that generally these fears aren't "wrong" to the point where our lives will be ruined but they are not beneficial to us in any regard.
This is where Spartan law applies. The answer to a fear and problem isn't to retreat, nor surrender; instead we must stand firm and face it like King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans facing 300,000 Persian warriors. It may seem impossibly hard to seriously consider what we fear and try to correct it, and that's because it's usually a large and defining part of us. For the non-math people out there, the Spartans were faced with a ratio of one man to every one THOUSAND Persians; and that's exactly what our odds feel like trying to face fears alone. But when we turn to God, our only true fear, and love, and ask Him for His help, the odds are all in our favor. And that's exactly what we must do, turn and face our fears with God in the lead - no running away, no hiding, no giving up, just fighting. It will bring struggle, it will bring pain, and it will bring out a warrior who is stronger and better equipped to serve God without the burden of fear.
Once again this post got long but I hope I stated my point and didn't wander too much.
In short, never retreat and never surrender to fear, only fight it with God.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Quotation
Heh, sometimes I quote myself, and this time I want to know if it sounds right. I think it sounds GOOD, in that it contains the characteristics of a fancy quotation; but I want to know if it actually carries meaning and advice.
"Our level of maturity is not determined by the amount of fun we wish to have, for laughter is a necessary ingredient to life, but by the degree to which we realize the need to outgrow our childish ignorance in respect to God."
Thoughts?
"Our level of maturity is not determined by the amount of fun we wish to have, for laughter is a necessary ingredient to life, but by the degree to which we realize the need to outgrow our childish ignorance in respect to God."
Thoughts?
Saturday, June 16, 2007
!Costa Rica!
i'm going to Costa Rica tomorrow at midnight...
i really don't have anything to say, just thought i'd say that. maybe i'll write a song about it while i'm down there. it's like something John Denver would do...write a song about a beautiful landscape.
i also hope to get up early and have some free time when i can continue doing my morning Bible reading. and it would be nice if i wasn't completely tired at the end of the day so i could continue that Bible reading time as well...i guess we'll see.
have a good life.
i really don't have anything to say, just thought i'd say that. maybe i'll write a song about it while i'm down there. it's like something John Denver would do...write a song about a beautiful landscape.
i also hope to get up early and have some free time when i can continue doing my morning Bible reading. and it would be nice if i wasn't completely tired at the end of the day so i could continue that Bible reading time as well...i guess we'll see.
have a good life.
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