One complaint I've heard in the last few weeks is that these Chesterton meetings are great, and help you feel like you've got some kindred spirits out there, and it's great talking to people, but then you leave. How do you take what you've learned and live like a Chestertonian?
One thing I've come to believe more and more about Chesterton himself is that he chose the way he wanted to live: cheerfully, lightly, bucking the tide, but humorously. Humility played a huge part. It is, as he said, easy to be heavy, hard to be light.
When someone gets heavy on you and starts saying they disagree with you and get kind of huffy and angry, how can you keep things light without them thinking you're making a joke of the situation? How can you get them to "turn off" the heaviness and get back to a place where you are having a conversation again, instead of a disagreement?
Monday, October 12, 2009
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Tips on how to live a Chestertonian life are a great idea!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I find interesting is that both Nietzsche and Chesterton-- worlds apart, one would think-- seemed to consider pomposity and humourless solemnity as almost the worst thing in the world. Nietzsche said "the spirit of gravity" was his biggest enemy, in Thus Spake Zarathustra. The difference is that Chesterton's sincere happiness radiates from his works while Nietzsche was obviously overcompensating for his innate misery. It's funny that Chesterton writes about Nietzsche so often.
A few suggestions on living like a Chestertonian (off the top of my head):
ReplyDelete1. Be grateful
2. Be full of wonder
3. Love your enemies
4. Do not be cowed by intellectual fads
5. Read Chesterton
I do Innocent Smith-ish things quite often. Like skip through the seminary hallways, pretend that small pumpkins are microphone heads, run backwards to chapel (and then the rector saw me...hee hee?) and stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteI also try LOOKING at things. Hey, if you never look, you'll never get to that thousandth time that is so dangerous.
Mmm. Looking at how the GKC dealt with the GBS, I'd say, mix one part scathing rhetorical stab with two parts compliment, drizzle lightly with a warm a mixture of charm and old-fashioned manners and serve. Preferably with beer and some form of tobacco. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou could always regularly forget where you are and what you're supposed to be doing. I do that. In fact, I did it even before I read Chesterton....
ReplyDeleteI like Kevin O' Brien's list. In fact, I think I'm typing that out and posting it on my fridge!
ReplyDeleteI am certain that the primary attribute required to live a GKC way is to strive for consciousness, mindfulness, awareness. Being and time are encrusted with miracles, we just so often aren't paying attention, brooding on grey things.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, does anyone know did GKC write: "The fight for civilization is the fight for consciousness?"
ReplyDeleteYes Tommy - you have it almost correct. But it is too good to answer here, so to hear more you must wait for me to make my posting today...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the word "awesomniac" might be a good one to describe a Chestertonian frame of mind? An awesomniac is someone who never falls asleep to the awe and wonder of life. It popped into my head as I was coming into work. Heeeee.
ReplyDeleteMaol: that is a great word. Awe keeps you awake! Awe-insomniac, or awe-some-maniac--crazy for awe!
ReplyDeleteWell thank you!!
ReplyDelete