Sweaty Truth

"The perversion of democratic society into a sea of anonymous beings, social droplets, deprived of true family, true freedom, and true purpose, although terribly possible, is not yet inevitable. Against this, intelligent men should struggle like fanatics; the Benthamite (ie. materialist/utilitarian) dream of social organization, in which the lonely, friendless, selfish, and hopeless individual confronts the leviathan state, in which all ancient affections and groupings have been eradicated and materialism has been substituted for traditional duties- this may be averted by the force of ideas, or so we should hope." - Russell Kirk

What does it look like when men struggle like fanatics wielding the force of ideas in hopes of averting disaster? I think Flannery O'Connor depicted it aptly when she said," You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you odd." Truth is not abstract. Paul warned against those who are "always learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth." Coming to a knowledge of the truth is the nasty, painful, sweaty part. Abstract truth is easy, it gives a self important high, it is fascinating to contemplate. However, it is the daily, personal, concrete struggling, and wielding of Truth which alone gives hope and light in the midst of a seemingly futile, purposeless world.

Ideas only have consequences when they are embedded deep in the rich, brown, dirty soil of earth. God's word says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.", and,"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. "

So today I pray for strength to keep plowing when I want to look back, grace to sow to the Spirit and not to my flesh, and the faith not to mind when the truth makes me odder than my pride wants to be. Help me Lord to struggle like a fanatic against the Lie.

Eyore weather

Outside my windows, the yard is smothered in "sticky wet leaves" as my family affectionately calls the effect of a drizzling autumn rain on the mounds of golden, orange, and sienna leaves lying thick across our grass.

The Eyorish weather dictated leftover apple pie and milk for breakfast, and on my desk a lukewarm cup of coffee tempts me to refill the mug, a comforting antidote to the slight chill in the air and the dark gray haze outside.

My typing is intermittent with the cuddles of a two year old who (between bouts of mischief) insists upon laying his tousled had in my lap. The other members of our crew curl up mesmerized on the couch, watching Anne Of Green Gables for the first time ever. It is that kind of day.

Compulsory Mediocrity

While reading in The Conservative Mind over my coffee this morning, I was struck by the following passage from Southern Conservative leader John C. Calhoun's Disquisition On Government, as well as Kirk's initial commentary:

(Kirk)"Liberty and complete equality, far from being inseparable, are incompatible, if by pure equality is meant equality of condition. For progress, moral and material, is derived from inequality of condition; and without progress, liberty decays:

'Now, as individuals differ greatly from each other, in intelligence, sagacity, energy, perseverance, skill, habit of industry and economy, physical power, position and opportunity — the necessary effect of leaving all free to exert themselves to better their condition, must be a corresponding inequality between those who may possess these qualities and advantages in a high degree, and those who may be deficient in them. The only means by which this result can be prevented are, either to impose such restrictions on the exertions of those who may possess them in a high degree, as will place them on a level with those who do not; or to deprive them of the fruits of their exertions. But to impose such restrictions on them would be destructive of liberty — while, to deprive them of the fruits of their exertions, could be to destroy the desire of bettering their condition. It is, indeed, his inequality of condition between the front and rear ranks, in the march of progress, which gives so strong an impulse to the former to maintain their position, and to the latter to press forward into their files. This gives to progress its greatest impulse. To force the front rank back to the rear, or attempt to push forward the rear into line with the front, by the interposition of the government, would put an end to the impulse, and effectually arrest the march of progress.'"

This truth is so concretely illustrated in the compulsory "equality of condition" required by our society. As a child in the public school system, I was refused the opportunity to progress beyond standardized grade level in my reading skills, and sent to the computer to play games so as not to injure any other children's "self esteem". Culture insists upon the equal value of all religious belief, and in doing so declares them all void. Government taxes the rich and distributes it to the poor, resulting in an impetusless lowerclass, and a resentful upperclass less inclined to generosity and compassion. Small, diverse businesses are smothered by prohibitive, standardized regulations instituted in the name of "equality of condition". Ideas have consequences.

Contrast this picture with the biblical injunction " Do you see and man who excels in his work, he will stand before kings, he will not stand before unknown men." Tangible excellence and faithfulness in any circumstance will always yield sweeter fruit than compulsory mediocrity.

My path this autumn evening...

Over the past several months, two books have come to dominate my mental landscape, and have crystallized many of the vague ideas which remained undefined yet felt. Below are links which will, no doubt, figure greatly in the wanderings of my thoughts over the months ahead:

Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher

The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk

Life With Russell Kirk by Annette Kirk

I cannot recommend these thought provoking books enough, and the essay by Annette Kirk is beautiful. Anyway, this is the path which I am wandering down this autumn evening.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace. " Ecclesiastes 3

These past months have been my time of silence. There is a time for speaking, but a time to close one's mouth as well... and this has been my season. There has been life to nurture in my womb, and the void of someone irreplaceable lost. There has been good but very real work to do, and war against my flesh to wage. There has been seed to sow in six little hearts, and tears to cry to cry at the feet of my Lord. And so I have placed my hand over my mouth.

However, the tiny little boy has arrived with the autumn, and something in me feels that the time to give form to thoughts has come again.