Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Energizing through narratives
To ponder:
"Under [God's] story, life ceases to be the grim, just-one-damn-thing-after-another, sort of existence we have know before. The little things of life -- marriage, children, visiting an eighty-year-old nursing home resident, listening to a sermon -- are redeemed and given eschatological significance. Our fate is transformed into our destiny; that is, we are given the means of transforming our past, our history of sin, into a future of love and service to neighbour." (Hauerwas and Willimon, 67)
I have to agree with the authors' first ideas -- there are narratives that catch us up within them, a story that makes you read past bedtime, something that motivates and energizes daily life. For me, as the authors, the story of Jesus is that narrative.
Some are wondering what 'eschatological' means. It refers to the study of the end-times, a time of judgement and God's direct rule. So why is this story eschatological? Because what we do now can effect the destiny of individuals, communities and the world. I hope that I'm working for the good.
Hauerwas, Stanley and Willimon, William H. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. Nashville: Abington Press, 1989.
Craig (mars-hill) Wednesday, October 05, 2005
3 Comments:
I have a pile of 15 books sitting on my desk plus the four I'm reading...but I'll add it to the list - thanks for the recommendation.
I'm almost finished Name of the Rose, so I'll get back to you on that one.
I'm almost finished Name of the Rose, so I'll get back to you on that one.
The Eternal Man huh? I'll have to find a copy of that to read. I really enjoy the writing of Chesterton's which I have read.
The way he expresses his outlook on life is at times so beautiful and so obvious and so livable all at once.
If you haven't yet, definately read Manalive it's fantastic.
The way he expresses his outlook on life is at times so beautiful and so obvious and so livable all at once.
If you haven't yet, definately read Manalive it's fantastic.
I've found Manalive and several other books by Chesterton free and online at CCEL (here).
I'm gonna have to get to a 'real' library for the eternal man though.
I'm gonna have to get to a 'real' library for the eternal man though.