Comments on: Afternoon Meditation http://www.the-exponent.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/ Am I Not a Woman and a Sister? Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:02:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: amelia http://www.the-exponent.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3954 amelia Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:00:00 +0000 http://theexponent.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/#comment-3954 i don't buy that statement about parents' happiness, caroline. i look at my parents and they're much happier than my least happy sibling. they're very concerned about that particular child and i know they experience worry and pain as a result, but they're still very happy. certainly happier than he is. and i think that happiness arises out of confidence and trust and faith. just as i think god's happiness arises out of confidence and trust and faith. i don’t buy that statement about parents’ happiness, caroline. i look at my parents and they’re much happier than my least happy sibling. they’re very concerned about that particular child and i know they experience worry and pain as a result, but they’re still very happy. certainly happier than he is. and i think that happiness arises out of confidence and trust and faith. just as i think god’s happiness arises out of confidence and trust and faith.

]]> By: Caroline http://www.the-exponent.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3953 Caroline Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:51:00 +0000 http://theexponent.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/#comment-3953 Thanks for this, Deborah. Sometimes if I let myself dwell on the horrors of the world - the torture, the senseless killings, the billions of animals suffering - I become incapacitated by the grief. I don't know how God bears it.<br/><br/>I once heard that a parent can only be as happy as his/her least happy child. Is God really ever happy, I wonder? Thanks for this, Deborah. Sometimes if I let myself dwell on the horrors of the world – the torture, the senseless killings, the billions of animals suffering – I become incapacitated by the grief. I don’t know how God bears it.

I once heard that a parent can only be as happy as his/her least happy child. Is God really ever happy, I wonder?

]]> By: AmyB http://www.the-exponent.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3952 AmyB Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:09:00 +0000 http://theexponent.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/#comment-3952 Beautiful thoughts, Deborah. I have to admit that opening myself to the pain and sorrow occuring in the world seems overwhelming and terrifying, and I end up numb.<br/><br/>I read <a HREF="http://richarddawkins.net/article,822,A-History-of-Violence,Steven-Pinker-Edge" REL="nofollow" rel="nofollow">this article</a> about a week ago, and it returned to mind with all of these events. It's a bit long, but I think it's well worth the read. The author, a Harvard professor, puts forth evidence that violence is actually on the decline. It leaves me with some hope. Beautiful thoughts, Deborah. I have to admit that opening myself to the pain and sorrow occuring in the world seems overwhelming and terrifying, and I end up numb.

I read this article about a week ago, and it returned to mind with all of these events. It’s a bit long, but I think it’s well worth the read. The author, a Harvard professor, puts forth evidence that violence is actually on the decline. It leaves me with some hope.

]]> By: Deborah http://www.the-exponent.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3951 Deborah Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:51:00 +0000 http://theexponent.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/#comment-3951 "but perhaps it is because in addition to having a complete knowledge of the world's evil, he also has a perfect knowledge of its good."<br/><br/>I like that, amelia. When I hear about all the problems with today's youth, I reflect on the teens I've been surrounded with for the last ten years -- who make me so so hopeful for our country's future . . . “but perhaps it is because in addition to having a complete knowledge of the world’s evil, he also has a perfect knowledge of its good.”

I like that, amelia. When I hear about all the problems with today’s youth, I reflect on the teens I’ve been surrounded with for the last ten years — who make me so so hopeful for our country’s future . . .

]]> By: amelia http://www.the-exponent.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3950 amelia Wed, 18 Apr 2007 06:20:00 +0000 http://theexponent.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/#comment-3950 thank you, deborah. i often find myself thinking this very thing. wondering at how god can bear knowing the world's evil and still hope. but perhaps it is because in addition to having a complete knowledge of the world's evil, he also has a perfect knowledge of its good. thank you, deborah. i often find myself thinking this very thing. wondering at how god can bear knowing the world’s evil and still hope. but perhaps it is because in addition to having a complete knowledge of the world’s evil, he also has a perfect knowledge of its good.

]]> By: Courtney http://www.the-exponent.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3949 Courtney Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:34:00 +0000 http://theexponent.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/afternoon-meditation/#comment-3949 That thought is both beautiful and horrible. I can't fathom seeing a world of evil, trauma, and pain, yet God does it and, as you said, still finds joy. Beautiful post. Something I will definitely spend time thinking about. That thought is both beautiful and horrible. I can’t fathom seeing a world of evil, trauma, and pain, yet God does it and, as you said, still finds joy. Beautiful post. Something I will definitely spend time thinking about.

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