tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post6156714453528159478..comments2024-03-28T00:17:55.823+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: The romantic appeal of life as an unique quest Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-88421410694166867102019-10-02T06:42:26.848+01:002019-10-02T06:42:26.848+01:00@David - yes. It is about recognising that the rom...@David - yes. It is about recognising that the romance of distant prospects is a reality.<br /><br />Tolkien gets it perfectly in Leaf by Niggle:<br /><br />After a time Niggle turned towards the Forest. Not because he was tired of the Tree, but he seemed to have got it all clear in his mind now, and was aware of it, and of its growth, even when he was not looking at it. As he walked away, he discovered an odd thing: the Forest, of course, was a distant Forest, yet he could approach it, even enter it, without its losing that particular charm. He had never before been able to walk into the distance without turning it into mere surroundings. It really added a considerable attraction to walking in the country, because, as you walked, new distances opened out; so that you now had doubled, treble, and quadruple distances, doubly, trebly, and quadruply enchanting. You could go on and on, and have a whole country in a garden, or in a picture (if you preferred to call it that). You could go on and on, but not perhaps for ever. There were the Mountains in the background. They did get nearer, very slowly. They did not seem to belong to the picture, or only as a link to something else, a glimpse through the trees of something different, a further stage: another picture. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-9875738975103700592019-10-01T21:07:00.233+01:002019-10-01T21:07:00.233+01:00I think I more or less share exactly the same pers...I think I more or less share exactly the same perspective; albeit with a periodically wavering and unstable conviction in the underlying metaphysical assumptions of Christianity. Try as I might, my certainty is labile, I am plagued with doubts and have breakthrough paroxysms of existential angst driven by melancholy, of the 'what if its all a fantasy to sugar coat the nihilistic really pill?' type. I seem to have been damaged by too much materialistic/scientific modern education and/or personal disposition. I can reattune with a spiritual perspective quickly in private contemplation, or when in contact with other Christians, but I back-slide constantly in daily life and then repent the failing. Conversely, the sun rise of God's grace and the realization that Jesus loves me seems to arrive when I need it most, to keep me motivated to pursue the scheme of creation with the motivation of a pure spirit, that you describe above.<br /><br />Apt painting choice by the way. Such a scene whilst walking the hills is one of my favourite, and for the same sentiments. It feels, deep down, that the only truly satisfying landscape must offer the prospect of creative and unknown adventures, just over the horizon... wouldn't you agree?Davidnoreply@blogger.com