I am becoming a fan of the fat guy with a cigar who died in 1936.
About a year ago, I was finally introduced to the works of G.K. Chesterton and have been on a trip, trying to soak up some of his wisdom ever since. As I mature (a polite way to say older) I begin to think about the “stuff” that I have experienced and learned over my life and what it all means?
I am currently reading a book by Dale Ahlquist, entitled, “Common Sense 101, Lessons from G.K. Chesterton“. If you know anything about Chesterton, you are aware that there seems to be a never ending supply of interesting quotes attributed to him. As a matter of fact, I have a three hundred and seventy five page book that advertises itself as “The very best quotes, quips and cracks from the pen of GK Chesterton”
Earlier today I was reading and came across this quote:
“The self is more distant than any star”
For me, this was a reminder that many of us allow ourselves to get lost…lost in society, lost in our relationships, lost in our faith and lost in how we act.
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Lost where we are, while looking miles ahead, (looking towards the stars?).
Do we really know ourselves? More importantly, Do we really want to know?
Maybe it is time to put away the telescope and take a closer look at where we are now?
Maybe it is time to pay a little more attention to the things that are important?
Can’t hurt, eh?
GKC is a universe unto himself. Read “Orthodoxy” and “The Man Who Was Thursday” and the Father Brown stories and “The Everlasting Man” and “Tremendous Trifles” and especially “The Well and the Shallows”.
If you’re a Reader, one of the first things; you’ll notice is how he’s almost a compulsive alliterator, and how he often combines opposites to make a point:
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”