December 11, 2006
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Work is sucking all the creativity out of me.
It’s not that I’m understimulated and bored out of my mind. It’s actually the contrary. I’ve been very busy and as a result, every creative thought that has been developing in my mind since morning usually gets thrown to the wayside by lunch. I’m too mentally drained to put my thoughts into words, and even if I could, I need my lunch break to rest my brain. This, in conjunction with a desire to maintain high production values on my site (which are currently unattainable by my lack of time and energy to compose a well thought out post), has severely limited my ability to publish.
As a result, I am going to try something new: Shorter posts with less developed thoughts. Maybe the readers can fill in the gaps. If you would be so kind, please let me know what you think.
I first read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress on the plane ride home from Australia. My pastor in Australia had recommended it to me as an allegory of the gospel. (He also teased me because I always carried a large backpack wherever I went. I carried a “burden” like Christian in the novel.) The story of how it was written enticed me: John Bunyan was thrown in prison and denied access to a Bible. Because he had no Bible to read, he wrote this book… both to remind himself of the Bible and to share the gospel with others in allegory form. (Readers, this is where I need you. Please verify if this story is true.) It was a neat book and I enjoyed it.
When I began this xanga-blog, I named it Pilgrim’s Progress, partly after this book, and partly because of my interest in Pilgrim verses in the Bible. One of those verses is displayed in my banner above. Here is the other one I know of (reader, if you know any more, please let me know):
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
- Hebrews 11: 13-16
There are so many things that I can say about this passage: I can talk about how incredibly blessed and encouraged I am by these examples of faith who persisted in their faith despite never receiving the things they were promised… and how I want to be like them. I can talk about how I have never fit in well with the people around me, and have felt like a stranger and alien on earth. Truly, my desire to live out my faith has alienated me from many people, even those I have called friends. I can talk about the hope for something better; A hope that outreaches the limited-in-scope-hopes people have for things like i-pods, 6-figure salaries, and successful careers. Oh… I could talk at length about what it means to look for a country of their own…
So, here is where I need you most. What do you relate to in this passage? What imagery does it evoke in you? Does this passage make your heart beat a little faster? Do you feel like an invitation has been made to you to leave behind some of the ordinary in pursuit of what God has prepared for you? I would love to hear your thoughts and I will eagerly respond to them…. because responding to comments is so much easier than writing a well crafted post. Thanks in advance…
3 cheers for audience participation…
Comments (6)
I love pilgrim verses–I love to travel and hike, so it really brings out the imagery of the wanderer in my head. Or the imagery of the quest, longing for a better country, travelling in fellowship.
I do feel like an invitation has been given me to leave behind the ordinary. My question is, leave it behind for where? Canaan? St. Louis? Buffalo? *rueful smile*
This earth is not my home. I’m just passing through. “They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” Often I long for heaven. Perfection. Not being able to sin ever again. Giving God the glory forever. Experiencing the fullness of His joy.
I like your new format. Anything is good if it means hearing from you more often. lala
What kills me are the people who realize they are some sort of alien after a fashion, and don’t know why they feel that way. The number of hoops and explainations they/we jump through to destroy/justify the sense of alienation, or even magnify it (and some of them so much more damaging than others) . . . It hurts my heart.
Sorry if this doesn’t make a lot of sense. I’m really tired and I want the world to know I hate packing.
Nice post, btw.
Whenever I read those lovely verses, I’m filled with a sense of calm and hopefulness. I’m reminded why I’m discontented in this life and with this world. I can breath in and think “it’s okay, I’m just passing through.” It’s beautiful to know down deep that one of these days I will know life in its fullest; I will know true contentment and wholeness and never toil again. No more messing up and relearning my spiritual lessons – no more roller coaster of faith vs. my human nature – I’ll be whole and get to look upon the face of my sweet King and never worry again about the vilence and injustice of this world. I can’t wait to say to myself “it was worth it all.” I just need to work on saying “someday, it will be worth it all.”
Now, Mr. Russo. You should very well know by now that the heavenly country most certainly cannot exist in St. Louis. Hasn’t the NLCS/World Series taught you anything? Besides stealing the championship away from two championship caliber teams (stealing is a sin, by the way), their star player, Pujols, is an unprofessional crybaby who 1) whines when he loses, and 2) whines when someone else wins.
With that settled, I must say that when I mentioned leaving the ordinary, I meant leaving all of the ordinary things that we hope and strive for in this world, whether that is a nice job, a nice home, or a nice wife. All of these things, as BetsyOrDie has alluded to, are temporary. When we work for and invest in the temporary, we are left with nothing when we reach the other side of death. I would hate to be unprepared for eternity without my own little reanimation savings fund. ;P
So in that light, what does it mean to you when I ask you about leaving behind the ordinary in order to pursue what God has planned for you?
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WithAbandon, I think I understand what you mean, however, I think the majority of the people you describe who feel a sense of alienation is different than the alienation that is being described here. There is the purposeful and intentional sense of being different because of beliefs, attitudes, goals and morals, which I think this passage is talking about… because Noah and Abraham did things that were completely wacky by their societal standards, but were still confident because their different choices were based on faith and the leading of the Holy Spirit. But then there is also an unintentional sense of being different because people are rejected by society for who they are. There is a break in fellowship, a damaging sense of hierarchy, and the people who are left on the bottom are left scrambling to try to get back with the in crowd. I think this is what you are talking about… yes? no?
I have experienced this rejection very personally as a youth. It makes my heart hurt as well, and I fervently believe that those experiences that I had are what motivates me to build community and to foster a sense of welcome and acceptance. I believe God allowed me to have those painful experiences so I can be motivated to do good.
nice comment
Cool to be an alien right? 
Explains all the dissatisfaction with this world and my slogan for the week has been “Meaningless, Meaningless!” 
Happy Belated Birthday!! a December baby!
God bless!