I think one problem today is that many can no longer discern the beautiful. It is just like the way the world fails to recognize the truth. Many tend to redefine them, making them into something that will justify despair instead of allowing them to save us from hopelessness.
Jocelyn, I think you've nailed it. Discerning the beautiful, good, and true is so important, especially for the emerging generations. This is what Lewis was getting at in The Abolition of Man: the ability of the young to discern the beautiful, that virtues are universal and exist and are objectively real. Love these thoughts.
What an enlightened glimpse into our communal sprint from God. As always, beautiful writing, and sobering perspective Timothy. Thank you. (Wrenlock awaits.)
Wow, Tim! This is so powerful!! Although, I certainly think most everything I read from you or hear you say is powerful! The way you have put this has been a beautiful reminder to me and what to look for when living my life and chasing beauty. Blessings to you and Christine.
"Why do we, as a culture, continually reward despair and desecration?"
My thoughts - we've cut God out of the foundations of our culture... our schools, our government, our games, our events. In doing so we have turned (explicitly, or by default) to the god of this world, and all that he loves and births: despair and desecration. We worship his works.
And not only in these outward gifts at his altar, but inwardly as well. Despair and desecration are birthed inside of us, too, and so we applaud and reward what depicts this. We relate, and we feel justified for the path we have chosen, and the feelings we feel, and the actions we do.
Sierra, this is very well said. Thank you so much for sharing it. I especially like what you said about despair and desecration being birthed inside us. It's almost like a disease.
PS This also puts words to why I find Skibidi Toilet not just “weird but whatever, it’s what they like to watch” but evil. Thank you! I thought maybe I was losing my mind.
And I adore “All Creatures Great and Small”!! Yes!
Oh my gosh, Tim! I don’t know if you saw my question on your last post about what happened to poetry in the 1900s, but it’s like you did and wrote this entire post in answer to it! Thank you for putting into words what I was feeling in my body and didn’t know why. I thought maybe I just wasn’t sophisticated enough to get most of modern poetry. But, no, it’s the despair! And the lack of any sort of meaning.
It’s really fascinating to me how there is a holy playfulness and an unholy meaninglessness that may look a lot alike on the surface, but somehow are so opposite. I feel vulnerable saying this, because I’m such a newbie to poetry and maybe I am just missing something [and I’m happy to hear feedback on this] but take for example the difference between “The Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll and “If I Told Him” by Gertrude Stein. I can’t tell you why, but to me the former is beautiful playfulness that makes me smile and laugh, while the latter is worse than nonsense that makes my gut feel a bit sick.
Thank you for your truth in this post. I am sobered and encouraged by it.
Sarah, I'd say trust your gut. Even for people new to poetry or art, I believe our instinct is to "know" and to sense the truth of the beauty and goodness within expressions of art and literature. I had a friend in Oxford who had a DPhil in History and an undergraduate in Classics tell me the same: Trust yourself, Tim, he said about how modern poetry is almost unreadable.
When my son was almost 4, went to Disney World and stayed at a hotel where we could watch Magic Kingdom fireworks with the music pumped in. We took my son to watch them one night, but had gotten the times wrong so all we saw was one lone Epcot fireworks after long moments of waiting. After we decided to try again another night, my son looked up at me and said, “Well it was still beautiful Mommy!” Your writing reminded me of that story for some reason.
And we did see the full on mega fireworks the next night. They were also beautiful. ☺️
We have slowly lost discernment: “The ability to judge well.” It is both a gift given from God, and something that can be taught or slowly suppressed by desensitisation. Jasmine went to a birthday party on the weekend and they played some music that made her feel uncomfortable. As a child, I too, remember feeling uncomfortable but not knowing why. Sometimes even from things my immediate family watched or listened to. I am so grateful I get the opportunity to help cultivate good discernment in the next generation! Such a gift!
Sarah, isn't it interesting how even the young can 'sense' when the good is ignored and replaced with what is bent? I love how God endowed us with intuition to know when something is off. We may not know precisely what, but we know it's bent. I'm grateful too for your amazing opportunity to cultivate the beautiful in your home and with your friend!
I think one problem today is that many can no longer discern the beautiful. It is just like the way the world fails to recognize the truth. Many tend to redefine them, making them into something that will justify despair instead of allowing them to save us from hopelessness.
Jocelyn, I think you've nailed it. Discerning the beautiful, good, and true is so important, especially for the emerging generations. This is what Lewis was getting at in The Abolition of Man: the ability of the young to discern the beautiful, that virtues are universal and exist and are objectively real. Love these thoughts.
Thank you, Timothy!
What an enlightened glimpse into our communal sprint from God. As always, beautiful writing, and sobering perspective Timothy. Thank you. (Wrenlock awaits.)
Marc! Thank you, brother! I felt impassioned on this one. :) (Wrenlock! Yes!)
Wow, Tim! This is so powerful!! Although, I certainly think most everything I read from you or hear you say is powerful! The way you have put this has been a beautiful reminder to me and what to look for when living my life and chasing beauty. Blessings to you and Christine.
Thank you, Denise! And of course I will give your regards to Chris! I hope you're doing well! Thank you for continued support to our writing ministry!
I didn’t see this movie, but I love All Creatures Great & Small - I want to be included in a conversation about this! Thank you for this article.
"Why do we, as a culture, continually reward despair and desecration?"
My thoughts - we've cut God out of the foundations of our culture... our schools, our government, our games, our events. In doing so we have turned (explicitly, or by default) to the god of this world, and all that he loves and births: despair and desecration. We worship his works.
And not only in these outward gifts at his altar, but inwardly as well. Despair and desecration are birthed inside of us, too, and so we applaud and reward what depicts this. We relate, and we feel justified for the path we have chosen, and the feelings we feel, and the actions we do.
Sierra, this is very well said. Thank you so much for sharing it. I especially like what you said about despair and desecration being birthed inside us. It's almost like a disease.
PS This also puts words to why I find Skibidi Toilet not just “weird but whatever, it’s what they like to watch” but evil. Thank you! I thought maybe I was losing my mind.
And I adore “All Creatures Great and Small”!! Yes!
Yes! I'm so tired of the "whatever" permissive nature of all of this.
Oh my gosh, Tim! I don’t know if you saw my question on your last post about what happened to poetry in the 1900s, but it’s like you did and wrote this entire post in answer to it! Thank you for putting into words what I was feeling in my body and didn’t know why. I thought maybe I just wasn’t sophisticated enough to get most of modern poetry. But, no, it’s the despair! And the lack of any sort of meaning.
It’s really fascinating to me how there is a holy playfulness and an unholy meaninglessness that may look a lot alike on the surface, but somehow are so opposite. I feel vulnerable saying this, because I’m such a newbie to poetry and maybe I am just missing something [and I’m happy to hear feedback on this] but take for example the difference between “The Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll and “If I Told Him” by Gertrude Stein. I can’t tell you why, but to me the former is beautiful playfulness that makes me smile and laugh, while the latter is worse than nonsense that makes my gut feel a bit sick.
Thank you for your truth in this post. I am sobered and encouraged by it.
Sarah, I'd say trust your gut. Even for people new to poetry or art, I believe our instinct is to "know" and to sense the truth of the beauty and goodness within expressions of art and literature. I had a friend in Oxford who had a DPhil in History and an undergraduate in Classics tell me the same: Trust yourself, Tim, he said about how modern poetry is almost unreadable.
Ah thank you so much for this, Tim! It’s so helpful to hear someone who’s been living this for a long time tell me to trust my gut. 🤍
When my son was almost 4, went to Disney World and stayed at a hotel where we could watch Magic Kingdom fireworks with the music pumped in. We took my son to watch them one night, but had gotten the times wrong so all we saw was one lone Epcot fireworks after long moments of waiting. After we decided to try again another night, my son looked up at me and said, “Well it was still beautiful Mommy!” Your writing reminded me of that story for some reason.
And we did see the full on mega fireworks the next night. They were also beautiful. ☺️
Well, I just love this. :)
What a sad commentary on most of all our silence as Christ followers!
It is very sad.
We have slowly lost discernment: “The ability to judge well.” It is both a gift given from God, and something that can be taught or slowly suppressed by desensitisation. Jasmine went to a birthday party on the weekend and they played some music that made her feel uncomfortable. As a child, I too, remember feeling uncomfortable but not knowing why. Sometimes even from things my immediate family watched or listened to. I am so grateful I get the opportunity to help cultivate good discernment in the next generation! Such a gift!
Sarah, isn't it interesting how even the young can 'sense' when the good is ignored and replaced with what is bent? I love how God endowed us with intuition to know when something is off. We may not know precisely what, but we know it's bent. I'm grateful too for your amazing opportunity to cultivate the beautiful in your home and with your friend!