This year, things have been a bit different. I am not as excited about the holiday rush as I normally am, and it as given me a right mind to reflect on the past 12 months. I am amazed at all that has happened this past year. There have been numerous transformations in my life and mind as well as in relationships with loved ones and with God. I mean, it was just about a year ago that I really stepped into my life here in the San Gabriel Valley. Just about a year ago that I opened my eyes and ears up to God, trying to find his new plans for me at this new church, CCV. I have never really stopped to realize all that God has taught me in this time, to realize how I have changed and grown.
So, now that I finally have some time, being done with school, I have resolved to write about just a handful of things that I found relevant and inspiring over the past year. I don't know how many of these blogs I will write before I, "get over it" but I think it is necessary to share the truths that we learn, which leads me to my first entry, Truth.
As many of you know from past blogs, I took an introduction to Shakespeare class this last semester. Being an English major, I really, really enjoyed it and took the opportunity to learn as much as I could by studying one of the greatest minds to ever think. I was surprised at how much I was able to learn from a dead poet!
As the semester has just recently come to a close, our professor, Dr. Salwak, challenged us to look back on all of Shakespeare's work that we studied and analyze themes that were consistent. One that I found in several, was an urge, a desire from Shakespeare, to his audience. The line is delivered in the end of his play, "The Tempest." It goes, "Gentle breath of yours my sails must fill, or else my project fails." It is spoken in the epilogue of the play by the character, Prospero. Prospero is a character of grace, valiance, and honesty, an enlightened king of a distant Isle. In many ways, the voice of Shakespeare is reflected through Prospero, but focusing on this line specifically, there is much weight.
Let me start by stating this, I do not idolize Shakespeare in any sense. I don't think him to be superhuman or god-like in any way, but I do think that a man who contemplated human nature as much as the late William Shakespeare did, would, by his end, have amazing insight into the subject matter. Shakespeare did, by his end, have a well thought out understanding of human nature, and I am under the impression, that was his life goal. Why? Not for his own glory or pride, but for reasons much grander. Shakespeare lived in a time of artistic revolution, a newfound open-mindedness swept the nation of England. Shakespeare, was not apart from it all, but I believe he had a revelation, to learn and to teach the complex inner workings of the human soul. So, I believe he sat down with the greatest forms of inspiration he could find, The Bible, a book with more insight into truth than any other ever written, and a mirror, figuratively speaking. Shakespeare looked within himself, analyzed his thoughts and natural instinct, his selfishness, happiness, pride... where did these come from, what did they cause? Shakespeare sought to find these truths, and reveal them to a new generation of free and wild thinking.
So, he was not always the great mind we think of him as, with vast amounts of knowledge ingrained in him from birth, not at all. Shakespeare learned everything along the way, it shows in his work. So, by the time he wrote his last play, "The Tempest," he saw his work coming to and end, and begged of his readers, to share what they learned, as he did, by writing his works. Our breath, must fill the sails of his work, our words, must speak wisdom, wisdom that he HELPS us discover with his plays.
(Just to make sure that I am not offending of being off putting to the avid readers of the bible, let me reassure you, Shakespeare is not greater than the word of God. Shakespeare, rather, took truths that he found to be relevant to his culture, and ingrained them in his plays. The bible was written from a perspective of people that many in western culture, have trouble understanding, in parables that they could not relate to. So, Shakespeare's work, hand in hand with the Bible, is a bridge of understanding for those in Western Culture. the fact that Shakespeare was so insightful to the Bible and the truths of human nature that it helped him discover, is why he has become so timeless).
Let me close (if I haven't already lost you in boredom!) with a practical approach to what Shakespeare had in mind, and, since I am on the subject of Truth, and the importance of speaking our minds, let me take a passage from his play, "King Lear."
"The weight of this sad time we must obey, Speak what we feel, not what we ought say." This line is delivered at the end of the play. By this time the tragedy has taken it's course, and many have suffered. A major catalyst for all the death and destruction in the play, was hiding the truth. Several characters literally disguised throughout, and others hiding behind lies and false emotion. In the end, truth prevails, it is revealed in all occurring, but what it took to spawn, caused pain and death.
It is really easy to lie in a culture like the one we live in. Everyone is seeking to be politically correct and "tolerant" to all. This my friends, is an act in futility. The truth cannot, WILL NOT, be hidden. It always finds a way to reveal itself. As adults, we cannot waste anymore time sugar coating things that major issues, we must confront our problems and differences in life, and FACE THEM. We cannot overcome adversity as a humanity, if we speak friendliness but brood in hate, if speak lies and hide the truth. GRANTED, there are instances when being polite can serve to help someone feel good, like, "hey what do you think about this shirt?"
Although it is obviously hideous, there is no need to be disparaging to the spirit of this exuberant young man! Rather, tell him, "Oh, well I have never seen anything like it, (on a human), that shirt is one of a kind!" You see. I know there are many who will try to turn this on me by saying, well where is the line, you have to be 100% or not at all. Ugh, lets not get tiresome. We all have common sense, if you are facing an issue of trivial value, weigh the costs of a little white lie as opposed to hiding your true self to fit in, or hiding your beliefs as not to conflict with anyone around you. It is important to execute common sense, and that is a point that we seem to lack in with our culture. We all have, all or nothing attitudes, and life does not work like that. You have to contemplate EVERYTHING in life. Every decision or belief should always be given a second, third, fourth thought! (but not five...c'mon no need to be excessive).
It comes down to this. Why hide the truth. Shakespeare puts it best in Hamlet, "To thine own self, be true." Do not compromise your beliefs. We get one life, ONE! do not waste yours trying to please EVERYONE. Yes, live to love, seek to serve, but by no means put on a facade. My belief is that once you come to terms and are honest with what is true to you, only then can you understand true tolerance. To deliver the truth to someone, shows true integrity and intimacy. much better than lying, and then brooding and gossiping behind their back. It's called "Conscience Loving." And according to my professor there is an essay on the topic, I don't know, google it. But it talks about a possibility of a breakthrough, serendipitous moments that we pass up out of fear of the truth, or what honesty MIGHT bring. Growing up, my mom always said, "What if is from the devil." I found it funny then, but the older I get, the more true I find it to be.
So I PRITHEE, as Shakespeare would say. Speak what you feel. And more so, I beg you all to look within as often as you can. It is amazing what God can reveal to you. This is why I write and read. Knowledge lies within words and communication, so utilize what has been given, second guess everything as not to be tricked by false preachers of truth. I will tell you right now, a great place to start is with The Bible, too tough? Shakespeare, to Elizabethan? C.S. Lewis.. start with him, journal, and work your way up. Read side by side with the Word of God, pray, and think, THINK! It is free and there is more to discover in your own introspection and contemplations than any book or film could ever reveal to you!
