Post 5

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis is an in depth journal of mourning for his wife whom recently died. Lewis paints a picture of internal doubts, hardships, questions of life and God with complete honesty. Lewis allows himself to be vulnerable before his readers. Even though originally his journal was published under a pseudonym, you can still understand his anguish over her death. His Christian perspective is clear and vivid even without knowing it is Lewis writing. I find it amazing to be able to get insight from a man with so much knowledge to give, even is his times of grief. In referring to his faith, Lewis writes, “Because the things I am believing are only a dream, or because I only dream that I believe them?” This statement just blows me away. Here Lewis allows himself to question what he has staked his entire life around. How much hurt and pain does he feel, to compare his faith to a dream. In a sense, if dreams are just wisps of our imagination, than what role has his faith played in his life, if it can just be swept away. The image he paints of a house of cards in comparison to his faith is just as profound. This concept that her death has caused him to feel like his stability in God has fallen down. I think this shows us that it is ok to grieve and that at the same token its important in the process of mourning. It’s hard to feel peace in a situation without wrestling through it first. I think the church in general wants the body to praise ones death if they’re a Christian, because they’re in a “better place”. But is that really healthy? To cover a wound, with a false smile. I mean maybe for some people that’s an option. But I feel the reality here is most people fake can lot of things in life, but grief isn’t one of those things.

Opps!

I forgot to do Post 4 by midnight on Tues.

Sorry =/

Post 3

The happily ever after is what everyone is taught to search for since childhood. The idea that romance and love is perfect and will always have that “Happy Ending” that everyone strives for. But the reality is in my opinion there is no true happy ending, maybe you could have a successful ending but it wont always be happy. Life is about working through the difficulties in order to find happiness and success. Happiness is not something that magically happens like in fairy tales. Love is something that needs to constantly worked at in order to last. And pure love alone cannot sustain a relationship without all the other things that need to back it. I think that this short story more than ever showed me that these other things that need to be in a relationship is a solid foundation of morality and standards. Even though the author portrayed John and Mary’s story almost in a sarcastic manner, all of those options happen to real people, in real relationships everyday. These options are what has become normal in our society because people don’t have a standard of morality to have their relationships rely upon when the stress of the world takes a toll on their relationship. As Christians, I feel like we need to be examples to the world of what healthy relationships look like. I think that in general we are not doing our part, to show unbelievers that love doesn’t have to involve options that hurt. “Crying is bad for your face, everyone knows that and so does Mary but she can’t stop.” Mary knew her relationship was unhealthy and I can’t help but think if she had some form of support to rely upon other than John she would not have to hurt like she was throughout the options. That maybe she would know that although love isn’t always that perfect happy ending, it can be successful with a foundation in something that never changes; God.

Post 2

“What do any of us really know about love?” Mel said. “It seems to me we’re just beginners at love.” I think this quote in specific is especially relevant to what Professor Corrigan said the first day of classes that all things tend to deal with either love or death. All people have to encounter love in whether a romantic way or just plain kindness and to the same extent we all will face death. Whatever the case is, humans have this in common: that neither love nor death can be known. Uncertainty is a key factor in what makes life, life. Another statement was said in the text that one character believes that love is an absolute. And I would have to agree, although love involves mystery to find it, it guarantees that in some shape you will find it. Uncertainty and the ability to explore love and find is something that I think a lot of people take for granted. People don’t realize how much love can impact their life positively or negatively. I think people are given the capacity at birth to give love and inherently a place to receive it. And that in order to have a true and complete love their must be a give and take relationship. Although Mel says we are beginners at love, I think the important thing is not to strive to become an expert. But rather strive to give love and not to focus on how you will receive this love. This requires sacrifice of your own wants and needs to be able fulfill someone else’s. Even though putting yourself out there isn’t always the easiest thing or certain for success, it’s worth the risk. This uncertainty is what makes love an absolute. Because if you can give of yourself knowing you might not give a response, maybe there won’t be a love that you receive back. But there will be a love that you can be absolutely sure that you gave out. In the end you became stronger, which in turn is success.

Literary Profile (Post 1)

Literature has always been an important part of my life. I think literary texts and works spark the opportunity for children and adults alike to explore and imagine their version of the authors words. When I was a child, I remember my mother reading to me Dr. Seuss books every night. Reading his books allowed me even at a young age, to understand thats its ok to be silly and creative in your writing. And when I think about it its probably than when I deceided to get into the arts. The arts have always intrigued me writing, reading, painting, music dance. Although some people dont necessarily see the connection between these things, I would like to venture out and say I do. All of these things that might seem trivial as to other aspects of life to people, actual hold great value. The arts give people the chance not to be scared to express themselves however they feel in whatever form they want. Therefore inspiring creativity and a uniqueness that can only be showed when they have the place to. Literary works in specific probably have one the most profound yet sublte impact on the current generation. Students and young adults now a days feel that reading is overrated and for lack of better words old school. Yet those who do take the time to read find it to change their lives in a way other forms of communication cannot. Probably the most substantial piece of literary text that I have read was Charles Dickens Great Expectations. I thought this piece really brought the problems of a current society into a new in fresh way, through a detailed account of one’s life. Although this wasn’t my favorite thing to have read I can appreciate his way of working through issues and displaying his views on them through fictional means.

.