Your life’s story arc is so inspiring to me... I’m definitely on some of the same paths. I’d say I’m not sure about flying the plane. That kind of self-confidence has been thoroughly stamped out of me. But I aim to piece it back together, and I think writing will be a big part of that work.
Growing up in the church you hear constant cliches; the platitudes are endless and everywhere. The problem is, unlike most secular phrases that are simply empty, even the plainest truisms in the church stand on a whole body of tradition and authority to explain and justify them. There were always answers to everything, to whatever level of detail you wanted. Everything was explained perfectly -- and none of it made perfect sense. But we were supposed to accept that mystery first and foremost (“God’s ways are higher than our ways”), and perniciously, the Christians are right on that front. We don’t and won’t know everything. We do have to learn to accept things we can’t understand. But we don’t therefore have to accept the church’s version of the story. And that’s good news indeed.
“This way of listening is part of what we must teach our children. It may be the first thing we must teach them. It may be the only thing we need to teach them.”
It truly may be Bowen. So much flows from that one thing.
Great piece Bowen. I remember feeling like everyone was lying to me as a kid, and I like this perspective into why.
I do have to say thought, I really wanted to see you flying the plane.
Your life’s story arc is so inspiring to me... I’m definitely on some of the same paths. I’d say I’m not sure about flying the plane. That kind of self-confidence has been thoroughly stamped out of me. But I aim to piece it back together, and I think writing will be a big part of that work.
Growing up in the church you hear constant cliches; the platitudes are endless and everywhere. The problem is, unlike most secular phrases that are simply empty, even the plainest truisms in the church stand on a whole body of tradition and authority to explain and justify them. There were always answers to everything, to whatever level of detail you wanted. Everything was explained perfectly -- and none of it made perfect sense. But we were supposed to accept that mystery first and foremost (“God’s ways are higher than our ways”), and perniciously, the Christians are right on that front. We don’t and won’t know everything. We do have to learn to accept things we can’t understand. But we don’t therefore have to accept the church’s version of the story. And that’s good news indeed.
“This way of listening is part of what we must teach our children. It may be the first thing we must teach them. It may be the only thing we need to teach them.”
It truly may be Bowen. So much flows from that one thing.
The fear is gone.
💪💪
It took a while now “ I too am ready to fly that plane “!
You’re Falling then Phoosh !! You are flying !
I’m afraid of heights , I have startle dreams where I’m falling but the Flying Dreams are the Best Ones !!!