Well, this is my second attempt at getting “with it”; my first atttempt at blogging was ill-fated and met its demise shortly after it began. Hopefully this will last a little longer. As you may or may not be able to assume from the title of my blog, “Strangers in a Strange Land,” this site is dedicated to the life of the believer in this world, specifically about my experiences, both past and present. The overwhelming feeling of all my experiences has been exactly that: there is a feeling that I don’t quite belong here, that I shouldn’t get too comfortable, and that I’m really seeking after Canaan. As a Christian I always feel a bit like a social misfit, even called to be so, yet in the world just the same. Never has this reality made itself so manifest as in my time in Ecuador; a 6′5″ ghastly white blonde guy hasn’t much hope to blend in with Ecuadorians. Yet lessons learned there about what it means to live as a sojourner will stay with me all the days of my life. Surely these lessons will be the themes of future blogposts. I hope this blog will serve to inform my loved-ones of the going-ons of my life as well as generate thought and dialogue concerning issues related to our pilgrimmage on this terrestrial ball. For now I’ll leave you with this incomplete yet provocative quote from C.S. Lewis’ A Grief Observed,
“It doesn’t really matter if you grip the arms of the dentist’s chair or let your arms lie in your lap; the drill drills on.”
I’ve purposefully left this quote out of its context to see how people respond to it, for in its context Lewis is making a very profound assertion about suffering and grief. May this be a blessing to your heart as well as mine.
A Sojourner
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24October2006 at 3:15 pm
"T"
This is all new technology for me, but I am thrilled to be kept up to date on your goings on…when and if I have anything profound to add to the words of wisdom you post, I will certainly contribute.
As for your initial quote left behind for comment, I am definitely a chair gripper in every aspect of life. I will persevere, and hold on for dear life as I travel my own journey that God has laid out for me. Love you, T
24October2006 at 6:29 pm
snubnosed in alpha
There are times when I’ll be struggling and Christian friends will say, “Romans 8:28, God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.” I usually respond with a smile, a nod and a ‘thankyou.’ But usually I’m thinking, “Yeah, right. You can’t fool me. I’ve read Job….”
24October2006 at 8:37 pm
JRS
I have no idea what to say here…other than I am having a root canal performed in the next few days. Does that count? – Psalm 144:1 (“If you stare at life too seriously – be prepared for optical nerve damage.”)
24October2006 at 9:00 pm
Anonymous
I’m looking forward to reading your blog. I’m glad you’ve taken it up again.
24October2006 at 9:17 pm
Heather
welcome to blog-world! i enjoyed reading your first entry and resonate with so much of the trueness you express about being “pilgrims through a foreign land.” Melissa gave me your blogsite. Mine is hiddenglory.blogspot.com–but I haven’t posted recently. -Heather Nelson
24October2006 at 10:41 pm
goodnight moon
Well my first reaction is to bite down on my tongue, both for the purpose of swallowing my scream and for soothing the tooth that was just drilled before the novocaine took effect. But then I get it. Sometimes I just think that my hands couldn’t even be surgically removed from the arms of the chair even if I gave my consent.
Welcome to the blogsphere, stranger! Looking forward to more posts.
25October2006 at 12:14 am
A Sojourner
It’s a little late, I’m a little sick, and I have a midterm tomorrow, so this post might be a little disjointed…or perhaps this is just the right time to write. Either way, in typical Lewis form, he utilizes an extended metaphor to let us theological lightweights understand what he’s talking about. Here, he recognizes that there are two approaches to grief, both of which involve fear. No matter how old you are, you always fear the dentist because even though he intends for you good, you know it will hurt. Now actual fear may not be involved in the grief, but it may feel like fear; “the anxiety, the constant need to swallow” as Lewis states. I appreciate his honesty in giving equal validity to those who “deal” with the pain by ripping the arms off the dentist’s chair and to those who SEEM to manage the pain quite well. Nota bene the second group: they’re screaming on the inside…