"...but there’s nothing sophisticated about choosing to see meaninglessness where others clearly find meaning." Thank you for this lovely reminder to be humbly interested. Being finite, we need the others around us to teach us the joy, beauty and awe of what we can't see.
I understand this best when someone belittles something I love. A college roommate once complained while I watched an Austen adaptation that the movie was boring because people were just talking. (She preferred action movies.) I wasn’t sure how to respond since most of the most important moments of my life occurred in conversations where nothing blew up.
I try to remember this when people are excited about football. Or most sports. Most of my sports viewing is tied to the Olympics, usually I don’t watch any. I do appreciate loved one’s enthusiasm and I can muster interest in a family member’s favorite team out of love of the person.
Love this, Jonathan. It made me think of this:
"In our world," said Eustace, "a star is a huge ball of flaming gas."
"Even in your world, my son," said Ramandu, "that is not what a star is, but only what it is made of."
"...but there’s nothing sophisticated about choosing to see meaninglessness where others clearly find meaning." Thank you for this lovely reminder to be humbly interested. Being finite, we need the others around us to teach us the joy, beauty and awe of what we can't see.
I understand this best when someone belittles something I love. A college roommate once complained while I watched an Austen adaptation that the movie was boring because people were just talking. (She preferred action movies.) I wasn’t sure how to respond since most of the most important moments of my life occurred in conversations where nothing blew up.
I try to remember this when people are excited about football. Or most sports. Most of my sports viewing is tied to the Olympics, usually I don’t watch any. I do appreciate loved one’s enthusiasm and I can muster interest in a family member’s favorite team out of love of the person.