Post 18 | Nature Poetry

My initial reaction to nature poetry was exactly a positive reaction. Although after re-reading “State of the Planet” and discussing it in class my opinion changed. I honestly never take time to ponder the beauty of the Earth or enjoy its benefits. I agree with Corrigan in that simply because those that hold different views in other areas than I do yet believe we should preserve the Earth still have a valid point when saying we should preserve our Earth. A quote from State of the Planet stuck out to me more than ever this last time I read it. It says “Lucretius, we have grown so clever that mechanics in our art of natural philosophy can take the property of luminescence from a Jellyfish and put it in mice. In the dark the creatures give off a greenish light. Their bodies must be very strange to them.” This quote is so strong in that it shows not where the Earth is headed but has already reached. It shows that although research is great and allows for discoveries, there is impact on nature. I feel this is shown when he says, “their bodies must be very strange to them.” This line made me think what if I was in the same situation; if I was simply an experiment. With all this said I feel the second read was a lot more impactful. I do hold the belief that while we care for nature we should never care for animals than humans. For example if an alligator is attacking someone I feel it is completely necessary to kill it and not wave off its actions as part of its aggressive nature. We do need to respect the Planet we live in although. I feel “State of the Planet” is very impactful in telling us this.

Post 17 | State of the Planet

When reading “State of the Planet” I was intrigued by the incredible usage of poetry although found myself having trouble tracking with the overall message of the text. I am excited to see what the overall purpose of the text is tomorrow in class. I did however recognize some interesting aspects to the text which I took note of. Throughout the text Robert Hass, the author, almost refers to human life, or our planet as something being observed. The setting of this text is referred to as being on the fiftieth anniversary of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. I found this fact along interesting in that it may serve to show his intention when writing it. It seems he’s observing the Earth at the nearing of the end of another century. The first line says “October on the planet at the century’s end.” The rest of the text he continues to observe this planet, which is planet earth. I would focus on the body of the text although I am not interested in his many observation as much as I am interested in the purpose of his holding these observations. In the last section he refers to these observations we have as being potentially all a large dream. Is it possible that everything we know is a dream? Section ten says. “What is to be done with our species? Because we know we are going to die, to be submitted to that tingling dance of atoms once again. Its easy for us to feel that our lives are a dream-As this is, in a way, a dream: the flailing rain.” I feel an even deeper question than the object we are observing, which is earth, is why are we observing. “What is to be done with our species?” I have to continue to re-read this passage to fully understand. These are my initial reactions and questions when reading the first time. 

Blog 16 | Transformation

The last text reading for transformation was different in the fact that it approached “lectio divina” not only as a reading for scripture but for poetry as well. At first I was a little critical when thinking of “lectio divina” being used for poetry, since its initial creation was for purposes of scripture. Although after applying the concept in class on Tuesday I realized the impact of using this method when reading any text. Corrigan had a good point when he said that we must treat “lectio divina” as a spiritual act to God, even when using it to read texts other than scripture. When you think about it, monks created “lectio divina” simply as practice of reading texts. Although it may seem sac-religious by using a method of reading scripture for regular texts, it is not in the respect that “lectio divina” is simply a method created by man. I feel if we started praying regular texts as scripture that that would be sac-religious because God ordains prayer, although in this case I feel this is not the case. McAloon in our last reading expressed his usage of “lectio divina” as a process that created a deeper self-awareness in him, as well as transformation. I feel these aspects should be the purpose of “lectio divina” when reading texts. In the last class to be honest I did not feel a transformation, I was able to relate and understand the text in a way I had never before. Each time of reading I heard something new. Each time reading I got a different feeling out of it. This is the way “lectio divina” affected me the most. It is a great process of “deep reading” because it makes you slow down and think. This slowing down is what makes all the difference. It is what helps the text in many cases serve to transform you. This is something that is rarely accomplished when speed-reading.

Post 15 | Brothers | A unique take on "Sonny's Blues."

The story of Sonny is a story of brother-ship. It is not told from the standpoint of Sonny but instead the standpoint of his brother. I must add as well that this story is not told in light heart. It is a story that expresses brothers’ care for another brother. Although instead of simply explaining the story I want to hone in on the relationship between the brothers. This story is very dear to me because I have a brother myself. The circumstances set forth within the story are not the same as my circumstances, yet I feel I can relate by understanding what it would feel like to have worries, similar to that of Sonny’s brother. I never had to worry about my brother throwing away his life or holding an addiction to cigarettes, but from personal experience there was a time I was afraid for his life. For a little over a year my brother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of cancer. Thankfully he is completely healed not, but nevertheless when reading this story I was almost able to relate with Sonny’s brother in having a feeling of deep care for someone else that stemmed not from selfish intentions, yet from a heart of love. The only difference in the stories brothers’ case in this story was his fear for his brother throwing away his life; mine was from my brother loosing his. These are very different concepts, but the feelings both boil down to a care that is like none other. A feeling that brings you to your knees in prayer. This prayer by the way is not simply an act of ritual to offer up our loved ones to God, it is truly a prayer of desperation. A prayer that is prayed when unthinkable circumstances present themselves. On page 396 Sonny’s brother expresses his care unknowingly when having a serious talk with Sonny about his life. He says, “Well, then, for Christ’s sake, stop kidding around and answer a serious question. I mean, do you want to be a concert pianist.” Again, my brother’s life was not similar to the character in a sense of loss of purpose. I am simply expressing I can correlate the feelings felt between Sonny’s brother of care and myself.

Post 14 | Stories

This past class we were offered the chance to share the short stories we wrote for our blogs. It was not only an enjoyable experience but also learning one as well. Since the class before last I read my short story to the group, this time was dedicated to listening. One feature of our story telling time was the chance to read our stories but in a quite enjoyable setting outside. In doing this it gave the feeling that we were not simply completing an assignment but instead discussing our works as almost a part of everyday life. The first story read was by Aubrey D’Aiuto. Her story was on a girl from Harvard that was slowly falling in love with a guy. The story slowly drew me in through her use of description and imagery throughout her story. For me in particular functions such as these within a story draw me in that much more to the characters. Adam Felix was the second to read his story. It was very touching as even more impactful when he described the meaning behind his story. Finally Casey Jensen read her story.  One of the quotes in her story that I still remember is “He had a fine cut jawbone and worked at a hotdog stand.” She was describing a very handsome man in her story that her main character was falling for. This made me think; maybe I should work at a hotdog stand. Not really but it was a funny quote nevertheless. Overall the main thing I was impacted with was the talent our class has. Each story included vivid description and was very creative in setting to dialogue. It’s rare that we get to read literature written by each other. Usually it seems to be by an author we’ve never met or spoken to face to face. This experience gave us to the chance to read talented literature from people we knew and saw on a regular basis.

Post 13 | Greatness

Whether my life was meant for greatness or simply the same greatness every other middle class American has seemed to achieve, I will never know. I do know although, or at least was told, that my life began twenty years ago in a natural pregnancy center no less than twenty minutes outside of Boston. I was given the name Ralph, probably due to my father and mother’s obsession with the brand Ralph Lauren. It was the nurse, or I think it was the nurse, who deemed me to hold my mother’s features. Brown eyes, brown hair, and a distinct dimple effect when I smiled. I weighed roughly eight pounds on my first day of life and for some reason was greatly acquainted with the emotional expression of tears that particular day. Although, despite these characteristics and despite my birthplace, I find myself remembering one detail better than the rest. It was said, those twenty years ago on the date of my birth, that my parents believed I was destined for greatness. The reason I remember this, I don’t know. Perhaps I remember because that’s all I heard growing up from schoolteachers and mentors. Although, simply put, I remember just as clearly Benjamin’s parents across the street believing their child was destined to the same thing; greatness. Nevertheless, our parents, better yet society, believed we had been destined, fated, ordained, for something called greatness.

It was a cool November morning as I waited for my childhood friend Benjamin to arrive for our morning breakfast appointment. The location of our appointment was a family owned breakfast nook, maybe a two-minute walk from the Oceans shore. The dining common inside was not only quaint, but also rustic. Two large wooden posts made of driftwood from the area distinguished the entrance. Three large panes of glass served as the eastern wall, which looked out over the picturesque Ocean. The waitress came to offer me a cup of coffee when, not two seconds later, Benjamin came walking in. He was a tall confident man, exactly one year older than myself. Better yet he was my childhood friend. It had been nearly two years since we had last spoken face-to-face. At first glance he did not recognize me, yet after a little while of investigating my familiar face he quickly ran over to give me a big hug like the old days. The waitress seeing this asked if there would be coffee for two now instead. I responded, “Two coffees and two eggs please.” With that we began to catch up on life. 

It had been no longer than five minutes of conversing when Benjamin unexpectedly pulled out what seemed to be a certificate and said, “You remember when our parents told us we were destined for greatness?” 

My response wasn’t an answer to his question but instead a look of puzzlement as to the significance of his certificate.

“All my life I tried to fill the shoes of society and achieve its goals set for me; all for the sake of greatness. Why then, if I am destined for greatness, does this certificate say “Bachelor of Science; Accounting?” 

“Well isn’t that a good thing? You tried hard in school and now you have succeeded.” 

His head somberly slouched down into his chair until he looked up and said, “What is greatness? How is this certificate greatness? People across the globe are accomplishing things. Soon enough, if not already, well have to start mass producing certificates for people who have given sweat, blood, and tears to simply master a subject.”

Hearing this I was appalled, I couldn’t help but think he was bashing my own dream as I was enrolled in college striving after a similar purpose. 

“Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Your original; just like everyone else?’” 

“No I haven’t heard that, but it makes sense.” 

“Well that’s what I’m getting at. We’re all a bunch of programmed humans fighting for the same thing, greatness, yet only so few make it. What makes these ‘few’ different from the crowd?” 

The truth is at this point, I no longer felt appalled at his statement, yet in agreement. How could life be so crass? In most cases, diligent hard working people are never noticed for their accomplishments. All they have to bring to the table is a simple certificate. I thought back to what my parents and society threw in my face for years, “You are destined for greatness.” How could they tell me such a thing when knowing the true reality of things? Now sitting, not even having touched our coffee, Benjamin and I stewed in agreement over a very depressing subject.

For whatever reason, whether by sheer rudeness, or some desire for conversation, the waitress interjected, “Its not why you’re living for, its who you’re living for.” I didn’t think she was listening to our conversation, although until then the small size of the dining commons didn’t occur to me. Thinking further, the place was so small I could probably account for half of the conversations being had there that day.

She continued, “Look outside at the ocean. Do you think every animal in there is in constant competition for greatness? Of course you don’t think that. Don’t sit here and dog on your life because your not the next Steve Jobs or Neil Armstrong.”

With that said, frustrated she started to walk away. 

Quickly, Benjamin stood up and said, “Please come sit, we, well I at least would like to hear what you have to say.” 

She paused in her steps, slowly turned around and said, “All I’m trying to say is that it’s a matter of choice. Are you living for God or for man? If your living for God accomplishment; greatness; it doesn’t matter.”

“How does living for God change anything?”

“Living for God means this so called greatness your talking about is nothing. That’s not our purpose for being on this Earth. Greatness is simply relative to your view as a human. A man could discover the World’s next alternative to gas, but if he misses God’s purpose; well your right, he has no more importance than the simple everyday college graduate with a certificate.”

“I guess that’s true, we all die in the end anyways.”

“But do we die with purpose is the question.”

It was all starting to make sense, to me at least. It all boils down to purpose. The truth is we can view people on their accomplishments or on who they are in God. 

Benjamin then leaned over to me pointing to his watch indicating the time.

I said, “I know, its time to leave.”

We looked at each other and then thanked the waitress for her input.

Our coffee was nearly to the floor of our cups and it was getting close for our time to part. I felt at peace. I no longer felt that fulfilling my purpose meant greatness. Even though man encouraged greatness and success as the ultimate goal it didn’t matter. Whether my life was destined for greatness or not I will never know. I don’t plan to know or want to know; the only truth I now desired was my purpose in God.

Post 12 | The Blessed House

This Blessed House was an interesting read to say the least. I feel there were many aspects of the story that in a way got my attention. Not only was there an innate desire to relate with the characters but also to understand Christianity from a different standpoint. I have always looked at Christianity from well, the viewpoint of a Christian. The Blessed House approaches Christianity from the standpoint of Hinduism. The two main characters in the story, Sanjeev and Twinkle, both give us insight as to other religious view of Christianity. Sanjeev, the more aggressive one throughout the story, seems to have a great distaste for Christianity, or at the relics that represent it. Twinkle on the other hand seems to have more reverence for the Christian relics left in this house they are moving into. This aggravates Sanjeev and is seen continually throughout the story. This story in particular seemed to have characters very relatable to us. The plot is not one of heroism or some fictional fantasy but is one of everyday life. We have disagreements and feelings towards one another’s actions. During our last class we discussed three things. Who were the characters were on the outside, on the inside, and in God? Sanjeev although rough on the outside seems to have a soft heart for Twinkle on the inside. Twinkle on the other hand seems to have a soft calm heart on the inside and outside. Finally we tried to answer the question as to who the characters were in God. At first it seemed there is no way they could be in God if they were Hindu. Although we came to the conclusion that weather they believed in God or not they were made by God and therefore in God. In this light there is no room for judgment of outside or inside character yet simply their value in God.