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We say or write what we think we mean.
But Freudian slips are, well, a lot more entertaining. And perhaps, more accurate.
To the point.
“Endurance is hardly an inspiring word. (It brings to mind the moral fiber necessary for two root canals in Guatemala.) When I think of how my life should be, endurance is not what I had in mind.
I have an agenda.
I have a time-line.
And it is irritating when life interferes.
Even so, we try our best to tie up loose ends, or handle our impasse with the tricks of the trade. I like Tim Farrington’s take, We fast, we pray, we take up a marital art. We spice our diet with ginseng and eat only vegetables grown in Zen-monastery gardens. If we have been meditating one hour a day, we mediate two. We hang the appropriate crystals and buy new furniture to address the nagging issue of feng shui. We see a past-life therapist. But none of it is any fun. The fountain that bubbled within us has gone dry, and we re just going through the dusty motions now.
There is something about our need to see a payoff for our efforts, isn’t there? As if we can overcome this awkward part of our life.
But here s the deal: Awkward or inconvenient or downright intolerable, we are offered an invitation. What Heideger called dasein, or being in the world. This not a reference to existence, but to our capacity to enter fully into the day.
This day.”
I have a time-line.
And it is irritating when life interferes.
Even so, we try our best to tie up loose ends, or handle our impasse with the tricks of the trade. I like Tim Farrington’s take, We fast, we pray, we take up a marital art. We spice our diet with ginseng and eat only vegetables grown in Zen-monastery gardens. If we have been meditating one hour a day, we mediate two. We hang the appropriate crystals and buy new furniture to address the nagging issue of feng shui. We see a past-life therapist. But none of it is any fun. The fountain that bubbled within us has gone dry, and we re just going through the dusty motions now.
There is something about our need to see a payoff for our efforts, isn’t there? As if we can overcome this awkward part of our life.
But here s the deal: Awkward or inconvenient or downright intolerable, we are offered an invitation. What Heideger called dasein, or being in the world. This not a reference to existence, but to our capacity to enter fully into the day.
This day.”
If you missed the “misspelled” word, so did I. But Sabbath Moment reader Carol (a spiritual director living in Michigan — check out her blog — prayerplaypolitics) pointed it out to me, no doubt, stifling her laughter.
The sentence should read, We fast, we pray, we take up a martial art. Not, as I wrote, a marital art. But that made me think how similar they are. Or not. On second thought, I believe that taking up a martial art would be much easier. And less complicated.
There is a skill set.
There is a measurement.
There is the satisfaction of achievement.
Marital art, on the other hand. . .well. . .do you know the Cathy comic strip?
Irving: I don’t get it Cathy, one day you are independent and aloof. The next day you won’t let me out of your sight. The next day you demand a commitment. The next day you won’t let me near you. What are you trying to do to me Cathy?!?!?
Cathy: I am eliminating your need to go out with a lot of different women.
On March 19 at the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, CA, I will be lecturing on: Living without Fear: The truth about intimacy, love, passion and sexuality. Now, I’m rethinking all of that. I believe that I’m going to talk about martial arts instead. So, if you have always wanted to learn the secrets about karate or Tai-Chi, I’ll see you in Anaheim.
The soul is always complicated. Most of its thoughts and emotions could never be expressed in plain language. You could have the patience of Job and still never understand your partner, because the soul by nature doesn’t lend itself to understanding or to clarity of expression. We may have to enter the confusion of another’s soul, with no hope of ever finding clarity, without demanding that the other be clear in expressing her feelings, and without the hope that one day this person will finally grow up or get better or express herself more plainly. Thomas Moore, Soul Mates
3 Comments
>Funny, but this is the misspelled word I found.
We have been meditating one hour a day, we mediate two.
>Very funny. . .and perfect, of course. . .going with our theme of marital arts. . .
So I won't correct it. . .
Do you think there will ever be a spell-checker that can read our mind?
>Terry, thank you so much for putting the "marital art" comment on your blog and referencing mine. Someone has already written a comment today, saying she heard of it from your blog. You are very kind. Thanks for your meaningful ministry!