Beachy Goodness
Please excuse a certain amount of giddiness as I approach the upcoming week at the beach. I look forward to it for possible regenerative possibilities both bodily and spiritual because I hope to do some spiritual reading on the trip between the long sandy runs. The "Hope Springs Eternal" department sees to it that I always bring Love and Responsibility along and it bears the scars. It got soaked by seawater one summer, victim of a rising tide. Fortunately the pages didn't stick together so it's still readable.
Good intentions often suffer. A tendency to save the best for last can be self-destructive. Perhaps I should save O'Reilly's "Those Who Trespass" for last this time.
Because I tend to be more monogamous in my reading habits during vacations, trips often become bonded in my mind to a certain book. For example, Sanibel Island reminds me of Russell Kirk's "Sword of Imagination". The Caribbean cruise calls forth Roth's "The Human Stain". A vacation to Hilton Head back in '89 reminded me of a book about the three popes of 1978 and explored Pope John Paul I's mysterious death. There's anticipation in wondering what this year's book will be.
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Apropos of nothing, but it occurs to me how tremendously well nature parallels the spiritual world, not surprising given God created both. And not just the dying and rebirth as shown in the seasons but also the parallel of trust a child has for his father. This is exactly the same trust we must cultivate for God. The child hears for the first time about sex, for example, and it's not intuitive that this activity would bring great joy. But the parent explains despite the child's protestations to the contrary that sex is fun. The child's experience is that the opposite sex is yucky and thinks this sort of clinical procedure can be ruled out as fun apriori. And yet...the father is proven right.
Note to Bill Luse: be careful what you wish for. I've decided to let loose with a torrent of posts today so that you'll have a lot to read while I'm gone. *grin*
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Watched part of the library-rented "Gangs of New York" Scorsese film because I was curious about the recreation of the infamous Five Points era of 1850s New York City. I'm a sucker for period pieces and I'd read a book about the Five Points so there was a natural interest there. Not to mention that Irish connection since so many of the residents were Irish immigrants. It's a bracing antidote to sepia-tinged nostalgia - the inhumanity is startling.
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I recently read "The Human Stain" and it's such a surprise to read about someone who wants to so utterly define themselves outside of race and religion. There are those who want nothing to do with their heritage and I can't understand that. If I fall into any of the positive stereotypes of my background I rejoice because it gives a sense of belonging - I'm a member of this group because I've been gifted with this trait. Any negative stereotypes of a heritage are also good because it lessens culpability and allievates some personal responsibility. And I'm all for that for me of course. Don't try that at home.
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