In the chapter called "The Oregon Trail," Don and Paul are wondering if they are on a pilgrimage. Don makes out like he's not sure. "What if I want life to be about getting paid and getting married or just being happy in the pagan sense?" As he thinks about where God is taking the universe, he wonders what He does with those who just want out.
It's neat when someone lets the cat out of the bag or when someone asks an obvious question. Don seems to be asking for a break -- some time to not have to make the right decisions or have to be religious -- to just "be." He talks about the seeming lack of freedom we are given as humans, refering to the limitations as "gravity and all that crap."
They basically ask the question: "What if life sucks?" And also, "What if it doesn't suck, but surrendering to it makes it good? What if it's all the fighting it that makes it bad?" There's probably a lot to be said for not dwelling on your circumstances. With the right amount of dissatisfaction any of us can probably get pretty upset about the way things are. Sometimes, it seems, just getting up and doing something -- even ever so slightly -- to improve things makes all the difference.
For example, if a couple of people are complaining about church -- how it's full of hypocrites and so and so always talks about money and so and so always goes off on secular movies or this and that. What if one person decides, 'You know what? My church is going to be different -- starting right now and starting with me.' They decide to go out of their way (almost) to be genuine and to befriend those around them. They will start giving of their time to just be there for their friends or to help them with practical things. They stop complaining and start giving silent reasons to compliment their church. An improvement starts to take place, and it's all about one person making a difference, deciding to change things for the better.
I would think that person would be a lot healthier than the one who just sat there and complained.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at December 7, 2006 08:40 AMI pity the foo that asks gawd those kind of kwestions!
Posted by: Mr. T at December 7, 2006 10:18 AM