A sense of a place

2 Corinthians 2:14 We are the pleasing aroma offered through Christ to God, and that sweet redolence can potentially permeate every place a disciple visits, wherein [his] will is submitted to the Holy Spirit's leading and devotion given to Yeshua--abiding in Him--remains the aim.

Walking the streets prior to sunrise with the indiscreet sounds of Islam's morning call to prayer resounding over the empty alleyways, I couldn't get past the overpoweringly repugnant oder of urine and rubbish throughout the area of Batu Ferangi. Strange the extent to which Malaysia has gone to, to cultivate (through the establishment of luxurious resorts and the promulgation of high-end retail venues) a sense of opulence and prestigious living, far removed and aloof from the more mundane, standard realities of other portions of it's society. Yet, for all the superficial splendour, the fact remains: the pungent stench of last night's dissipation is inescapable.

Kindness in Malaka

On the way to Central station yesterday evening, I was blessed to have met a Malaysian fellow named Elliot. I was looking for a local bus out of the Jonker Street area, but wasn't having much luck. The night market was in full swing, bringing traffic to a virtual standstill, so I began walking, but no further than a couple km and Elliot offered to give me a ride, no strings attached. He was just interested in having some cross-cultural conversation and learning a bit about me. So, wonderful to be back in Asia.

The bold question

She gazes intently as if to probe the depths of my soul as the response to her query is given. 'I hope you won't think me too bold, but...?'

Is it a reflection of Your nature which beams most brilliantly from within my heart? And shall I reserve such auroral brilliance for randomly rare occasions of conviviality between strangers at thirty-two thousand feet?

How quickly self-imposed lunacy eclipses the surface rendering it dark, shadowed by insecurities and vanity, for a plalidly lackluster light counterfeited or conjured will never equate to the true devotion that inspires light in the world.

May I ever radiate the love and light of Yeshua.

Impressions and remembrances

Regarding historical perspectives and enduring legacies, it can be observed that people of lasting consequence (in as much as the accolades of history care to recall) fall into one of two categories: either they are notable men of impeccable moral character whose judgements and decisions are above reproach, or notorious men whose infamous acts leave an indelible stain in the fabric of a given social order. From a Biblical foundation the tree is known by its fruit. However, it ought to be taken into consideration that within a highly subjective and relativistic society, it is quite unlikely that one could make a distinction, with any certainty, between the man of turpitude and the one of righteousness.

Furthermore, with regard to ones progeny, it may be asserted that the descendants of a good man are just as easily turned toward indolent proclivities as those of an evil man are turned to pursue sainthood. Since both are subject to the same incentives and temptations, it is reasonable to conclude that the pendulum may swing either way in spite of attempts to direct it in a particular direction. That having been said, often such efforts are merely subterfuge, masking a hidden agenda to establish ones own credibility.

Therefore, since external entities are only prone to influence but never mastery, the aim of paramount importance ought to be the improvement of ones direct faculties, that is, the mind, body and spirit, of which one can accurately exercise complete control.

An obvious surplus of food in Yakima

While walking home after dropping off my dog this evening, I was unexpectedly roused from my introspective ponderings by an egg suddenly hitting me in the thigh. Evidently, the driver of the black sports car that subsequently sped away had had too many eggs in his refrigerator and was hard pressed for a means of disposing of them. Fair enough! Although I can think of far more productive uses for excess food than randomly tossing it out a window at unsuspecting pedestrians.

Interestingly, I had been thinking about ways to cultivate gratitude just prior to being pelted by the incredible, edible projectile, and once I had realized what happened I felt extremely thankful that the egg had not splattered on my trousers, but instead had only broken open after falling to the concrete.

 

• The vagabond’s raison d'être lies in search of answers to questions he knows not.

• Potentially portentous dreams of devils or demons—and I had two such occurrences last month— are evidently unearthed from the depths of unfrequented cognition, as well as regrettable actions, and reveal (at least to some extent) how far compunction has compromised one’s capacity to recognize the truth.

• With apparent credulity, the vast majority of our “developed” societies (myself included) have unwittingly apotheosized an inexorably indolent and presuming existence dependent upon the articles of an inanimate architecture, technological progress being the bannerman’s cry; however, in spite of this pervasively postulated value, one might be hard-pressed to find one in ten who can adequately articulate an idea with any semblance of sagacity or distinguish between the affections many demonstrate for their possessions relative to their progeny.

• Repudiation of goodness occurs when a critically conscientious mind, that is to say, an intellect self-elevated over the preeminent word of an authoritative One, becomes more or less inattentive and otherwise unacknowledging of all the many evidences of providential favour and kindness. Such a scholastic justifies his supposition by the argument of objectivity, for he has been persuaded that no greater trespass can be levied upon a learner than that of arbitrarily accepting a notion. Similarly, the prominent pedagogue will invariably denounce a blessing—although presented through magnanimity—for which his methodological approach finds no substantiation.

• No greater malevolence can be found than that which already exists within a man’s soul.

• As with all personal ideas and purported insights, some may be relevant and even applicable to friends or acquaintances which I have beyond myself; others are, perhaps, mere whims of a fantastical sort meant only for ephemeral contemplation. Therefore, it is encouraged to take that which might be useful and let the dross lie.

 

Of mental reasoning

“Accurate and just reasoning is the only catholic[i] remedy, fitted for all persons and all dispositions; and is alone able to subvert that abstruse philosophy and metaphysical jargon, which, being mixed up with popular superstition, renders it[ii] in a manner impenetrable to careless reasoners, and gives it the air of science and wisdom.”[iii]

How does one correctly assess reasoning as “accurate and just” and by what criteria is it validated? The aforementioned quotation nullifies its conclusion through an assumed premise of truth where none has been presented. At the same time, contextual conclusions within section one of this treatise suggest that Hume’s paradigm attributes credibility to a philosophy established through numerous lifetimes of thorough investigations and arduous ‘mental pains.’ It should be acknowledged, however, that these endeavors alone do not necessarily result in authenticated reason since people often expend an enormous deal of effort exploring notions dictated by the erroneous caprice of an era and of unfounded biases issued by ignorance. Regarding the allegedly irreplaceable role of research, the scholar states,

“…however unsuccessful former attempts may have proved, there is still room to hope, that the industry, good fortune, or improved sagacity of succeeding generations may reach discoveries unknown to former ages.”[iv]

Most would be obliged to agree because the sentiment underpinning this statement is optimistically hopeful. Nonetheless, it is not within the power of humankind to thus affect folly as to make it wisdom, neither will any length of time, nor supposed verisimilitudes cause a lie to become truth. Can it be logical to presume that the intensity or duration of dedication to a line of reasoning has any determinant in its accuracy or fallibility? By the same antithetical token, one might believe that staring intently at an eastern horizon for a prolonged period of time will eventually cause the sun to rise. However, the outcome hardly substantiates the veracity of the supposition.

Ultimately, the point cannot be avoided, nor should it be relegated to the analogs of antiquated thought: reason is dependent upon a cause. The exigencies of human reasoning are far too great if disconnected from their “perfect origins;”[v] for one must know everything to know anything with absolute certainty. Thus, the need for a solid foundation upon which to build becomes equally paramount as the conditional capacity man has for reasoning.

Granted, if the former authority has been applied, then the later pretenses merely present a subterfuge, masking and distorting the potential impact of understanding. In effect, such esoteric rhetoric wrapped in adherence to baseless traditions may inadvertently rescind the actual power of a sound mind, for when did accurate reasoning ever require a semblance of wisdom. These snares are implied to all for whom “The Word” is but an inheritance and to those whose practice of reasoning remains stagnant.      All things considered, “Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”[vi]

 

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[i] Universal

[ii] Accurate and just reasoning

[iii] Hume, David. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Sect 1, 7

[iv] Ibid.

[v] John 1:1-4 The very first word, ipso facto, is preeminently authoritative.

[vi] Luke 7:35