I loved this piece from yesterday, and I resonate with it a lot!
In a world that is so chaotic and in desperate need of so much action, it is hard to know what to do and anything that you do seems hopeless and pointless.
However, I loved that you drew it back to beauty, enjoying the simple things in life, regardless of what you do.
People say artists see beauty in the midst of the chaos, but I believe, we are all artists in that sense–or at least ought to be. The point of life, as comes out of your writings, is to pause, enjoy beauty and simplicity, to love, and to be loved.
I couldn’t agree more!
When I think about it, it seems to me that that is what heaven will be all about–a paradise full of people where everyone pursues that kind of life, and as a result, there will be no violence and suffering.
I ask myself, if it is so simple, couldn’t we get closer to that kind of Kingdom-here-on-earth way of living in our time? And what would need to be done?
As a political scientist I naturally think about government structures, ideologies, cultural values, human nature, etc., and I soon realize, we live in a world where “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.
In a world that seems so screwed up, and in a war that we have no physical weapons for, what can be done? Is there anything?
Of course there is. Part of it is, as you said, "To speak with anger! To stand in the streets with signs! To fall to our knees at every hour! To plead with God for mercy!”
But is that it? No!
Again, as you said, “...what might happen if we all stopped to consider what we found beautiful? What would your world look like if you brought intrigue and curiosity and joy into every moment? Maybe then everyone would become a poet and an artist and a lover of delicious details. Could this be what we really need? Our words, paintings, a hand on a shoulder, two sets of eyes meeting, smiles exchanged, voices calling out ciao bella at a world of good waiting to be seen."
I firmly believe this is the answer.
We are all bear different passions, talents, and gifts, and we have different vocations, callings, and jobs. These are incredibly important and can be significant avenues for change, and we must strive to do our best in them.
But the more important contribution we can make to “change the world” is to pause, enjoy beauty and simplicity, to love, and to be loved. To see beauty in the chaos.
But we must not stop there.
We must then pick up a pen and write, a brush and paint, a microphone and speak–influencing the world with inspiring art full of life, truth, and love, one person at a time. This will look different for each of us, from the politician who reaches out to a colleague across the isle, to a professor that is not afraid to speak the truth, a business person who sacrifices profits for a greater cause–or a travelling writer who works up another piece writing, not having a clue as to how many of their followers will take the time to consider the weightiness of it.
As people like you and I–and the tuk tuk driver in Lisbon–continue to make our contribution of “art", the world will continue to exhibit "beauty in a violent world".
Beautiful, Ben. Thanks for the lengthy, detailed response. I read it in a taxi home from an evening market and it filled me with such gratitude and joy. I loved reading your thoughts. Maybe you should start your own little substack? I’ll be your first subscriber!
Thanks Leah, I'm glad you enjoyed reading my comment.
And thanks, haha. I've never really considered myself a writer, but maybe I'll consider it at some point. :)
Hi Leah,
I loved this piece from yesterday, and I resonate with it a lot!
In a world that is so chaotic and in desperate need of so much action, it is hard to know what to do and anything that you do seems hopeless and pointless.
However, I loved that you drew it back to beauty, enjoying the simple things in life, regardless of what you do.
People say artists see beauty in the midst of the chaos, but I believe, we are all artists in that sense–or at least ought to be. The point of life, as comes out of your writings, is to pause, enjoy beauty and simplicity, to love, and to be loved.
I couldn’t agree more!
When I think about it, it seems to me that that is what heaven will be all about–a paradise full of people where everyone pursues that kind of life, and as a result, there will be no violence and suffering.
I ask myself, if it is so simple, couldn’t we get closer to that kind of Kingdom-here-on-earth way of living in our time? And what would need to be done?
As a political scientist I naturally think about government structures, ideologies, cultural values, human nature, etc., and I soon realize, we live in a world where “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.
In a world that seems so screwed up, and in a war that we have no physical weapons for, what can be done? Is there anything?
Of course there is. Part of it is, as you said, "To speak with anger! To stand in the streets with signs! To fall to our knees at every hour! To plead with God for mercy!”
But is that it? No!
Again, as you said, “...what might happen if we all stopped to consider what we found beautiful? What would your world look like if you brought intrigue and curiosity and joy into every moment? Maybe then everyone would become a poet and an artist and a lover of delicious details. Could this be what we really need? Our words, paintings, a hand on a shoulder, two sets of eyes meeting, smiles exchanged, voices calling out ciao bella at a world of good waiting to be seen."
I firmly believe this is the answer.
We are all bear different passions, talents, and gifts, and we have different vocations, callings, and jobs. These are incredibly important and can be significant avenues for change, and we must strive to do our best in them.
But the more important contribution we can make to “change the world” is to pause, enjoy beauty and simplicity, to love, and to be loved. To see beauty in the chaos.
But we must not stop there.
We must then pick up a pen and write, a brush and paint, a microphone and speak–influencing the world with inspiring art full of life, truth, and love, one person at a time. This will look different for each of us, from the politician who reaches out to a colleague across the isle, to a professor that is not afraid to speak the truth, a business person who sacrifices profits for a greater cause–or a travelling writer who works up another piece writing, not having a clue as to how many of their followers will take the time to consider the weightiness of it.
As people like you and I–and the tuk tuk driver in Lisbon–continue to make our contribution of “art", the world will continue to exhibit "beauty in a violent world".
We must all become artists.
**
Thanks for writing and sharing this piece!
Hope you have a wonderful time in Lisbon.
Blessings,
Ben
Dang, did not think it was so long!
I just felt like processing what I read and figured I'd send a quick reply to it–well, here we are. 😃
Beautiful, Ben. Thanks for the lengthy, detailed response. I read it in a taxi home from an evening market and it filled me with such gratitude and joy. I loved reading your thoughts. Maybe you should start your own little substack? I’ll be your first subscriber!