I have recently become entranced by a quote from Tom Hanks in "Cast Away." At the end of the movie, facing a decision about how he should proceed with his life, he says, "Tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring."
Remembering that earlier, on his wretched island, the tide brings him the remnants of the walls of a Port-a-potty. This becomes the basis of his escape and ultimate rescue. Life so often appears to be manageable if only we work hard enough and be as smart as we can be. Then, events come to pass that blow all that away.
Your title reminded me of an SNL sketch several years ago where a therapist's answer to every client's issue was, as they looked plaintively into her eyes, "Get over yourself!" Thanks for the memories.
Your post also reminded me of the Stoic idea that desiring nothing is the precondition to being free. Again, thank you.
Rereading Erling Kågge his book Silence: In the Age of Noise.
When we sit in silence for a time, the mud that tends to fill our waking minds begins to settle more, and the water becomes clearer so we can see what lies lurking in its depths. To stop thinking, stop planning, stop dreaming and so to make space that allows something new to arise. For only when the mind is quiet, when it is not buzzing with thoughts, can we hear the still, small voice of insight. And it is this idea, that a bit of quiet is essential to life.
Learning to sit in silence is not about fighting the noise in our heads, but tolerating the self without fuss or commentary. Carl Rogers noted a paradox when he said that it is only by accepting ourselves as we are that we can change. We can learn. This may sound slightly sentimental, but it is hard to refute. If we never let the noise die down, the constant barrage of endless nonstop ramblings and attacks on our nation, the people, all in which he is requiring us all to accept it as it is, then nothing new can surface. Nor can those quieter emotions like wonder, of love, or awe, or surprise surface. It is hard to write of this without sounding pious; but these are the kinds of feelings of making a life liveable so perhaps they deserve a little respect.
Just speaking of inner silence: that mental emptiness that we rather counter-intuitively call mindfulness. Outer quiet simply helps: it is easier for our thoughts to settle in a forest, or in a snowy expanse, or in the early morning. But the silence with which Erling is concerned is a state, rather than a setting. With a bit of practice, we can learn to take it with us, even into the chaos of what it has been for a constant nineteen months of slamming at our own personal entrance or door to force it open by many just using a battering ram.
This week seems so heavy with loss. An unspeakable loss that words often allude. Needed the quiet time, to even embrace or digest.. we move on. Yet will say so tired of being tired. Perhaps that is what makes Erling’s take on silence so compelling. He is not selling us a retreat from the evils of modernity, but a means of finding peace and wisdom within it.
I love the Eastern philosophy teaching of clearing the ting of the mind via meditation. I try to practice that regularly. Only problem is, being on the old side now, it's hard to sit quietly with an empty mind for long without falling asleep!
What a beautiful Sunday sermon! Thank you for your eloquence. I am missing what you and Stephen Colbert would have discussed on the Late Show following your poignant passages. Many blessings
Last weekend we dropped one of our kids at a Catholic university for his freshman year. The festivities wrapped-up with Mass held in a sports arena to accommodate the crowd. I found myself mapping the words of the prayers (which flowed easily from my memory) to the spiritual journey of my adulthood: meditation retreats, Eastern philosophy, etc. The many kernels of truths find expression in different ways, but they are constant: loosen the grip that the mind asserts, and you may find glimpses of what you are seeking.
OK one more philosophical tidbit on this topic - from Bruce Lee no less: “Emphasize cultivating a flexible, fluid mindset like water, discarding the useless while adopting what works, and avoiding overthinking to ensure action.”
note that California has designated May 17th as Bruce Lee Day. Please mark your calendars for appropriate commemoration ceremonies.
My daughter has that same chair. She had studied neuroscience and worked on a study at Harvard. The later she had to put aside when her husband was deployed and she was the only parent for a while. When he came back, and we and my granddaughter were so relieved, my daughter did not return to her studies. The chair is in her study at home.
Your trip with your daughter as she painted in watercolor with your travel water, was so interesting because you had saved the water and it was there for your daughter!
John, I am 76 years old and only now learning to "Get Over Myself." I no longer expect those middle-aged whippersnappers who post wiz-dum for all to read, to take the time to read what they write. Your notes are better researched and discussion more nuanced than their conclusions. You have found the ability to get out of your own way and I relish the opportunity follow along.
I've been on disability benefits for 15+ years and sometimes I share Bilbo's feeling like "butter scraped over too much bread." Like Bilbo, I want to understand and share that understanding. Your experiments are helping a ton. Keep it up!
Browning: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp/or what's a heaven for?" The reach for the spiritual enlightenment being the most elusive and rewarding.
I have recently become entranced by a quote from Tom Hanks in "Cast Away." At the end of the movie, facing a decision about how he should proceed with his life, he says, "Tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring."
Remembering that earlier, on his wretched island, the tide brings him the remnants of the walls of a Port-a-potty. This becomes the basis of his escape and ultimate rescue. Life so often appears to be manageable if only we work hard enough and be as smart as we can be. Then, events come to pass that blow all that away.
Your title reminded me of an SNL sketch several years ago where a therapist's answer to every client's issue was, as they looked plaintively into her eyes, "Get over yourself!" Thanks for the memories.
Your post also reminded me of the Stoic idea that desiring nothing is the precondition to being free. Again, thank you.
John, these three passages are a mirror image of the passages in the lectionary for today, 22nd sunday in ordinary time.
The meaning is clear as a bell, and you captured it.
Im blessed (now) to know you as a person instead of as performance. Kathleen
Rereading Erling Kågge his book Silence: In the Age of Noise.
When we sit in silence for a time, the mud that tends to fill our waking minds begins to settle more, and the water becomes clearer so we can see what lies lurking in its depths. To stop thinking, stop planning, stop dreaming and so to make space that allows something new to arise. For only when the mind is quiet, when it is not buzzing with thoughts, can we hear the still, small voice of insight. And it is this idea, that a bit of quiet is essential to life.
Learning to sit in silence is not about fighting the noise in our heads, but tolerating the self without fuss or commentary. Carl Rogers noted a paradox when he said that it is only by accepting ourselves as we are that we can change. We can learn. This may sound slightly sentimental, but it is hard to refute. If we never let the noise die down, the constant barrage of endless nonstop ramblings and attacks on our nation, the people, all in which he is requiring us all to accept it as it is, then nothing new can surface. Nor can those quieter emotions like wonder, of love, or awe, or surprise surface. It is hard to write of this without sounding pious; but these are the kinds of feelings of making a life liveable so perhaps they deserve a little respect.
Just speaking of inner silence: that mental emptiness that we rather counter-intuitively call mindfulness. Outer quiet simply helps: it is easier for our thoughts to settle in a forest, or in a snowy expanse, or in the early morning. But the silence with which Erling is concerned is a state, rather than a setting. With a bit of practice, we can learn to take it with us, even into the chaos of what it has been for a constant nineteen months of slamming at our own personal entrance or door to force it open by many just using a battering ram.
This week seems so heavy with loss. An unspeakable loss that words often allude. Needed the quiet time, to even embrace or digest.. we move on. Yet will say so tired of being tired. Perhaps that is what makes Erling’s take on silence so compelling. He is not selling us a retreat from the evils of modernity, but a means of finding peace and wisdom within it.
I love the Eastern philosophy teaching of clearing the ting of the mind via meditation. I try to practice that regularly. Only problem is, being on the old side now, it's hard to sit quietly with an empty mind for long without falling asleep!
Yes it is..
What a beautiful Sunday sermon! Thank you for your eloquence. I am missing what you and Stephen Colbert would have discussed on the Late Show following your poignant passages. Many blessings
Last weekend we dropped one of our kids at a Catholic university for his freshman year. The festivities wrapped-up with Mass held in a sports arena to accommodate the crowd. I found myself mapping the words of the prayers (which flowed easily from my memory) to the spiritual journey of my adulthood: meditation retreats, Eastern philosophy, etc. The many kernels of truths find expression in different ways, but they are constant: loosen the grip that the mind asserts, and you may find glimpses of what you are seeking.
This is the third time in my life you have saved me from utter despair, John Dickerson. Bless you for sharing underlined reading: gratefully received.
Wow. Thank you.
Great readings. Thanks for sharing.
Genius!
OK one more philosophical tidbit on this topic - from Bruce Lee no less: “Emphasize cultivating a flexible, fluid mindset like water, discarding the useless while adopting what works, and avoiding overthinking to ensure action.”
note that California has designated May 17th as Bruce Lee Day. Please mark your calendars for appropriate commemoration ceremonies.
I’m reminded of the wisdom of the Twelve Step Program principle to surrender and “Let Go and Let God”. And of the virtue of Humility. Thank you, John.
My daughter has that same chair. She had studied neuroscience and worked on a study at Harvard. The later she had to put aside when her husband was deployed and she was the only parent for a while. When he came back, and we and my granddaughter were so relieved, my daughter did not return to her studies. The chair is in her study at home.
Your trip with your daughter as she painted in watercolor with your travel water, was so interesting because you had saved the water and it was there for your daughter!
John, I am 76 years old and only now learning to "Get Over Myself." I no longer expect those middle-aged whippersnappers who post wiz-dum for all to read, to take the time to read what they write. Your notes are better researched and discussion more nuanced than their conclusions. You have found the ability to get out of your own way and I relish the opportunity follow along.
I've been on disability benefits for 15+ years and sometimes I share Bilbo's feeling like "butter scraped over too much bread." Like Bilbo, I want to understand and share that understanding. Your experiments are helping a ton. Keep it up!
You write in cursive?! I can’t believe it!!! 😁
Wonderful post. Wonderful authors. Thank you, John.
Browning: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp/or what's a heaven for?" The reach for the spiritual enlightenment being the most elusive and rewarding.