The thing which keeps life romantic and full of fiery possibilities is the existence of these great plain limitations which force all of us to meet the things we do not like or do not expect. It is vain for the supercilious moderns to talk of being in uncongenial surroundings. To be in a romance is to be in uncongenial surroundings. To be born into this earth is to be born into uncongenial surroundings, hence to be born into a romance.
-G. K. Chesterton, "On Certain Modern Writers and the Institution of the Family", Heretics
3 comments:
It is probably apparent by this point that I'm quite taken with this essay...I dipped into it for this quote, because I wanted to post more on the theme of adventure and romance and fantasy and story. But I'm delighted by what Chesterton has to say about the family, in particular. I'm often struck by how the people I see in church are not the people I would have chosen for friends. You have some choice in the matter of friends, but you can't pick family, and you can't pick church, even though we're often tempted to try. I've been a member of a few churches, and found that they all have their fair share of folks who irritate me for one reason or another (odd ducks!). But it is so good and so right to be with people who are not like me. I'm reminded that the world is so much larger than my narrow perspective, my small hobbies and interests and likes and dislikes. Spiritual pruning takes place as I'm jostled and bumped (mixed metaphor, sorry) by folks whose opinions aren't like my own, and I have to make allowances and give grace. And, as Chesterton is pointing out, life together is adventure and romance, precisely because it creates limits and boundaries on my personal freedom to do as I please and (paradoxically?) introduces an element of chaos, since now I'm surrounded by people who are outside my control...
But abstractions aside, there is a practical question here: is it a terrible mistake to live alone? I'm afraid that I miss out on so much giving/receiving grace...Some of which I can experience by being involved in church, and youth group, and small groups, and work...but it's not quite the same as sharing a bathroom.
Are you considering a commune or a convent? ;)
Seriously, though, I've thought on many of the same questions. I've found that God has provided roommates for me at the right time and in the right ways, and I've been blessed by the various inhabitants of my guest room over the years. Many of the best ones are simply girls in need of another place to live... Shall I pray for a roommate for you? =)
I don't know...that sounds kind of drastic... :)
Post a Comment