The Road

Have you read "The Road?" It's a book that merits some discussion.

Cormac McCarthy creates a nearly lifeless post-apocalyptic world of burnt ash and destruction, and amid the desolation, explores the beauty of a father-son relationship and the essence of what it means to be human. His book poses a couple of problems directed at the morality of this generation, which are more than troubling: the nature of man’s relationship to nature, God, others . . . and how one can live through the hopelessness of desolation.

To be honest, the book became a bit tedious, but the author’s goal is to lead the reader through continuous strife as the man and his boy sought life day after day. Ah, isn’t that what life feels like sometimes? It’s definitely not a feel good story, but nonetheless a vital one that carries much weight. I started feeling ashy by the end of this one.

I had some thoughts about this book, and they won’t go away:

Amid the chaos and destruction, why is there no innovation, no attempt to rebuild? Is Cormac saying that there’s nothing worthwhile in our culture and society to rebuild?
Where is man’s refuge from the evil of the world, if it can no longer be found in the placid environs of nature?
How can man relate to God in the midst of suffering?
Why does hope never die?

Also, good and evil: the man defines “good” by the behavior he does not do, rather than by the positive actions he takes. For example, the father and son agree that they will never resort to cannibalism, because that’s what bad people do; however, the son points out that they are not helping others--feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. In fact, their lack of compassion leads to death for others, which the son points out. This parallel between the rule of law and the law of love is one to be explored further, but it’s a hint about what McCarthy is getting at with this story.

Is he concerned about leaving the destroyed and decayed world to the next generation; the guilt of having children and not leaving the world a better place? Have we not learned love and gratitude in all things, by destroying the world and focusing on survival above all else? What is the legacy we are leaving for future generations?

Where does God reside? The man seems to be cursing God for his abandonment in the burnt wasteland, while the spirit of God continues to live in humanity in the soul of the child, who has no recollection of the world before it has been destroyed. Is this a messianic story exploring the hope of renewal and restoration because of the birth of a child? God also resides in the hope that senselessly drives the man toward a better place. This hope is all that he has, yet he is cursed by it.

Because we have not loved each other well . . . we have destroyed the world. What legacy will we leave our children?

Interesting quote

If you can't think of anything intelligent to write, leave it to the experts. I've been chewing on this one for a few days, by General Douglas MacArthur. Enjoy.

Youth is not a period of time. It is a state of mind, a result of the will, a quality of the imagination, a victory of courage over timidity, of the taste for adventure over the love of comfort. A man doesn’t grow old because he has lived a certain number of years. A man grows old when he deserts his ideal. The years may wrinkle his skin, but deserting his ideal wrinkles his soul. Preoccupations, fears, doubts, and despair are the enemies which slowly bow us toward earth and turn us into dust before death. You will remain young as long as you are open to what is beautiful, good, and great; receptive to the messages of other men and women, of nature, and of God. If one day you should become bitter, pessimistic, and gnawed by despair, may God have mercy on your old man’s soul.

Love

Something happens to us when we receive love from another . . . something wonderful (or awe-ful, in the true sense of the word).

That may be why God asks us to love the unlovable, to love our enemies, to pray for those who hate us.

God is in the business of transformation, and this comes not only to those we love, but to us as we love others.

Check the scriptures, it’s filled with these crazy statements like heaping coals on the enemy’s head by showing love and kindness, loving one another, being reconciled to another before we reconcile with God . . .

God knows that change must take place, and that change agent is us.

We are the ones who can change this life for the better.

We can be blessers . . . ambassadors of the message of reconciliation, those who represent what God is doing in the human race through His children.

Be reconciled to God and love one another. Act out in love to others, so they can be the recipient's of God's love, and receive the change that only love can make in their own lives.

Personally, I could stand to improve much in this area of my life.

Hi

This is the customary opening page, wherein I place false humility statements like, “I’m just one voice, what do I matter?,” and “If you’re here, you probably are a friend of you found me by accident, because nobody would seek out this nonsense I’m spouting out,” then I discuss the merits of blogging in general, asking questions like, “What do I have to contribute to the conversation?” and “Why do you need to know my thoughts, Internet stranger?”

But then I blog anyway, because I need to be heard. Yep, apparently I need this.

So here you are, smarty pants.

I hope you’re happy now. I’ll do my best to use correct grammar in my rantings, so I don't sound like a complete moron.