tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post4130671760088640401..comments2023-09-09T00:48:12.875-07:00Comments on Perspective From The Summit: Why We ReadMatt Guerinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05433397955119179231noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-55049298240507955882010-07-13T13:44:39.244-07:002010-07-13T13:44:39.244-07:00Matthew, I loved this post. As true as your commen...Matthew, I loved this post. As true as your comments are about the value of being able to really listen with the deliberate goal to really hear, I feel them even more as I grow older. It seems my weaknesses are magnified as I age.<br /><br />As with any discipline, the more we use it the better we get at it and, sadly, the less we have used it the worse we are in our later years. But there is always hope and your excellent thoughts stimulate this mother heart to "love and good works," if that makes sense. We absolutely can relearn when necessary but we have to want to. Your following quote affirms that to my heart:<br /><br />"He does not intend to increase our comfort with who we are. He intends to unmake who we are, so he can remake us in the image of his Son."<br /><br />Thank God. <br /><br />Love to you,<br />MomJudith Guerinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-76038222456338447212010-07-04T22:45:25.451-07:002010-07-04T22:45:25.451-07:00Thank you for your thoughtful insights Lidj. Amy a...Thank you for your thoughtful insights Lidj. Amy and I have talked about these things many times before, though it was a recent event that brought them to mind again. <br /><br />Listening to hear. It brought to mind the struggle my students have in doing this with textbooks. Which in turn makes me realize how much we all struggle to do this with God. <br /><br />And all this makes me realize how important a lesson this is. <br /><br />Thank you for affirming the perspective you find here. That is a great encouragement to me!Matt Guerinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433397955119179231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-77166805766996825482010-07-04T05:43:55.956-07:002010-07-04T05:43:55.956-07:00This post is so meaty, Matt.
One of the things th...This post is so meaty, Matt.<br /><br />One of the things that I have truly missed since my husband died 18 months ago is the way he comes to his wife's rescue whenever he feels that I have been attacked...hurt...unjustly treated, etc., by a life event, or by a human being.<br /><br />There was just something in him that always saw my side of the matter. I guess this was because we had such an intimate relationship -- we would always talk an hour or two before finally falling asleep at night. In the constant sharing of our hearts and minds with each other, we knew what was going on inside...most of the time. Even without words.<br /><br />I knew that sooner or later, husband Matt would come up with something beautiful and well written because his wife needs the affirmation and protective covering of her husband.<br /><br />This post is such an incisive response to the recent events that I have been privileged to know about.<br /><br />While it is one of those tests sent our way by God to see how our hearts will eventually respond, it is also a golden opportunity for us to evaluate our present positions. <br /><br />Sacred stretching, you called it. I love the way you said this:<br /><br />"God has given us his word to increase our understanding. He does not merely offer us comfort, inspiration, and warm feelings (though these things are sometimes part of the package). Rather, the Ancient of Days beckons us to his throne so that he can teach us, stretch us, and make us new creatures. He does not intend to increase our comfort with who we are. He intends to unmake who we are, so he can remake us in the image of his Son."<br /><br />We are constantly being made, re-made, and unmade...saints under construction.<br /><br />You are wise to require your students to first understand the reading matter before evaluating. At least it ensures that the evaluation will be based on an honest attempt to understand the writer's original intent, and this will include taking into consideration the context in which it was written.<br /><br />C.S. Lewis is also wise to encourage us to read books written in another era and time. It gives us the opportunity to get out of our comfort zones, and our of our narrow mindedness, bigotry, and self focus.<br /><br />How you ever came up with such an appropriate title for your blog, I stand amazed. Your blog posts have lived up to it. You offer such a perspective from the top, so that we are not like hens looking down at our tiny piece of ground, but eagles soaring up high.<br /><br />I also believe that Westerners who have lived in first world affluent societies should welcome any opportunity to live in an Asian country (like the Philippines) for a time and experience first hand what poverty means.<br /><br />Life becomes so much more meaningful when viewed from a wider perspective. <br /><br />Thank you for this excellent post!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />LidjCrown of Beautyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08993686012020045284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-84312793725855277932010-07-03T16:07:37.964-07:002010-07-03T16:07:37.964-07:00I'm delighted to see that Lidj has seen this p...I'm delighted to see that Lidj has seen this post already...even if it is just a brief read through. She is one individual who knows how to listen and read well. Her mind and heart is willing to be stretched to unknown territory and she then reacts with a open heart. Her soul is anchored in God's truth and that is the grid with which she passes it through. She responds to any author by understanding what he/she has said and then gives a well thought out heart response. I feel heard and valued when Lidj reads my blog posts and then responds. She knows how to make a connection even though we are so far apart and have never met face to face. I pray that I learn how to listen, read, and respond like her in time. Love to you, Lidj! <br />AmyAmy Guerinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01729880742850937752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-71599117372305617642010-07-03T15:41:31.781-07:002010-07-03T15:41:31.781-07:00Believe it or not, I WAS born then! But I was only...Believe it or not, I WAS born then! But I was only 2 years old. :) Get some sleep my friend!Matt Guerinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433397955119179231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-61040329993775574522010-07-03T13:57:56.254-07:002010-07-03T13:57:56.254-07:00Hi there!
It's 4 a.m. here... gave your newes...Hi there!<br /><br />It's 4 a.m. here... gave your newest posting a quick read through. <br /><br />Will be back to read it more thoroughly when my mind (and heart!) is fully awake.<br /><br />I really look forward to reading what you have written. You have touched on many matters that interest me. <br /><br />C.S. Lewis is one of the authors who shaped my spiritual thinking when I first came to know the Lord in 1973... that was 37 years ago (you weren't even born then!)<br /><br />Blessings...<br />LidjCrown of Beautyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08993686012020045284noreply@blogger.com