Legitimate reasons to stay or go

 

Do I stay Christian? -Brian McLaren

Mclaren is a fluid writer - the English lit professor style. 

The first part of the book lays out a series of reasons why a person would legitimately have cause to leave the Christian religion.

The second half lays out some reasons and recourse to stay. 

I resonated with many of his points. Religious history is rife with travesty - Christianity is no exception. That it has oft veered from the life of the founder - is uncontested. I have been long astray from the more fundamentalist leaning transactional Christianity I was raised with, even though in the midst of that influence, I was instilled by my parents and mentors with a very personal relationship with God and Jesus that has been the defining aspect of my faith through all the different life paths...

McLaren seems to be much more philosophically and politically collective than I am. He spends a lot more time thinking about whether there is hope for institutional religion and probably puts a lot more stock in large scale political movements than I would tend to. For example this quote: "That means we will strengthen our shared desire for healthy and just communities and societies from global civilizations to nations to states to cities to neighborhoods to families and circles of friends." 

I don't tend to put much stock in "global civilizations" - I tend to have a more libertarian and tribal perspective. I think, at best we can attempt to transform ourselves (difficult) and then perhaps exert influence on family and friends... and so forth. I participate in a church community because I do believe that community service and progress in faith are aided by such institutions - or at this moment in time, more apt - the particular community I participate in - has presented itself to me through a mystical invitation that feels part of the stream of my life. Formal institutions have not always been a part of my faith journey but more often than not they have - both church and parachurch organizations. 

That being said, I definitely agree with the fact that a move towards and acceptance of a much more complex, mysterious, and nuanced version of faith is a welcome conversation to have. 

Dear Liz

 

Dear Liz,

 

In 2009, my dear friend Karin loaned me Eat, Pray, Love and like so many other people, I fell in love with your unique blend of candor, intellect, and humor. I found myself relating, giggling, and relishing the tale. I’ve read it several times since then.

I happened upon Big Magic some years back. As a dabbling wanna-be writer -a rather unproductive artist (with the temperament minus the output) I was impressed and inspired by the thoughts and stories you shared. Despite my lack of official artistic output, I am committed to the path of self-exploration and I think that’s what I value most about your writing. In fact, in Big Magic one of my takeaways was something you expressed about art first and foremost being about our own personal exploration – writing for yourself – producing your art purely for your own enjoyment, need to understand, pleasure etc. I also appreciate that you touched on the idea of not expecting your art to provide for you financially. I have mentioned this concept to several people over the years – including my own daughter for whom I just purchased Big Magic.  I feel like I’m having a conversation with a fellow pilgrim and even though we’ve never met, I feel like a fellow traveler.

Over the past month, I picked up The Last American and Committed. I had stumbled upon some quotes of yours online and it re-ignited my interest in reading more of your works. I was not disappointed. There are so many odd ways in which I connect to your narratives: perhaps the tendency to sarcasm, self-deprecation, sort of tomboyish air, personalized way of communicating and connecting, curiosity, and analytical way of thinking about things.

I appreciate your insights that span from your own thoughts and experiences shared so personally to the overarching themes that you share gleaned from observations, interviews, and research. I relate to both of these approaches because it combines an eagle-eye-view of culture with your own deeply personal connections with self, God, and others. It also so courageous to be willing to share these thoughts and experiences with others in such an open way and I want to thank you for that very daring gesture.

This all sounds like a painful book report that someone told a high schooler to write. It’s also dreadfully old fashioned. I could’ve thrown a comment on your Instagram feed for example.

I keep a book log online and my intent was to write a response to Committed – but it morphed into the idea of this letter. I’m sure you receive a lot of fan mail, and I don’t blame you if this never gets read.

 

I wish you all the best in your life journey.

Fellow Traveler,

Arizona

 

Clad in a homemade loin cloth of bandannas

 

    

Just finished this read. Got back from a day at a theme park - and couldn't wait to resume the real fun - reading, sipping, and just basically living the 94 year old dream. While I was fussing about crowds, cold, traffic, lines - I couldn't help but bemoan my lack of resiliency. 

Eustace Conway has resiliency. I think of him bounding down the Appalachian trail clad in a homemade loin cloth of bandannas, bearing little but a knife.

Elizabeth Gilbert (I've been a fan since I read her more famous book Eat, Pray, Love - round about 2009 I think.) She's a masterful writer and I love her candid, warm, humorous nonfiction writing style. Plus she's brilliant. She lays out the facts with just enough detail but cuts through to a psychological depth that your average biographer might miss alltogether.

I am riveted by Eustace Conway's force of personality and his visionary quest to save humanity from an apathetic suburban comatose existence. I'm fascinated by his adventures, romances, and Type A mountain man life on his farm and preserve "Turtle Island." I'm enthralled with the way a man can tirelessly pursue the approval of a distant father who bestows his first kind word on his son when son reaches age 39. There's a clash of being one with nature, the force of a driven visionary who longs for his own wood chinked walk in closet, and awaits the perfect woman who will embody pluck, nurture, and backbreaking labor. I feel for someone who puts so much pressure on himself and others as if driven by some sort of primeval force that cannot be resisted nor restrained. 

There's something about the collision of the seventies with a profoundly American heritage that promoted the concept of a puritanical holy grail pursuit of becoming a "man of destiny" that forged this unique personality. A guy clad in homemade buckskin attends college - exiting his homemade tepee each day to attend class. The dude rides cross country on horseback - coast to coast. I love the description of his mystical relationship with horses. 

I love Liz's interview with horseman CuChullaine O'Reilly - extolling the uniqueness of Eustace who has the three key characteristics of a brilliance endurance rider: "courage, resolve, and romance." He goes on to say that Eustace lacks (at that point - 20+ years ago y'all) his own spiritual journeying which would pull him away from the posturing and showmanship to something really heroic.

Eustace is featured in the 2012 Mountain Men show - I've added it to my list...