Daily Advice 12.17.20
Dec. 17th, 2020 10:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
readoldthingsMore Seneca, of course:
All of this is just so different from the pablum that one hears from even the best of priests and pastors these days.
In no better way can God discredit what we covet than by bestowing those things on the basest men while withholding them from the best.
"But," you say, "it is unjust that a good man be broken in health or transfixed or fettered, while the wicked are pampered and stalk at large with whole skins."
What then? Is it not unjust that brave men should take up arms, and stay all night in camp, and stand with bandaged wounds before the rampart, while perverts and professional profligates rest secure within the city? What then? Is it not unjust that the noblest maidens should be aroused from sleep to perform sacrifices at night, while others stained with sin enjoy soundest slumber? Toil summons the best men.
"But," you say, "it is unjust that a good man be broken in health or transfixed or fettered, while the wicked are pampered and stalk at large with whole skins."
What then? Is it not unjust that brave men should take up arms, and stay all night in camp, and stand with bandaged wounds before the rampart, while perverts and professional profligates rest secure within the city? What then? Is it not unjust that the noblest maidens should be aroused from sleep to perform sacrifices at night, while others stained with sin enjoy soundest slumber? Toil summons the best men.
All of this is just so different from the pablum that one hears from even the best of priests and pastors these days.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-17 05:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-12-17 05:21 pm (UTC)I agree, and I find it terribly sad, given that the books of Job and Ecclesiastes are about this almost exclusively. Jesus gave the parable of the talents, too! I had to leave Christianity to learn some of these essential lessons that they have to teach.
I've kept little of my childhood, but one thing that has stuck with me was a saying of one of my pastors (a great old Jesus Freak hippie): "Don't let people mess you up about God: let God straighten you out about people." I wonder what might have happened had I understood that earlier... no, perhaps not. I'm sure Seneca has things to say about dwelling on the past!
no subject
Date: 2020-12-18 12:52 pm (UTC)