People don't change
Book three of Confessions is a relatable book. The book begins with Augustine being a student at Carthage. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that he is like most high school and college students. In chapter one, he says "As yet I had never been in love and I longed to love." He also says that "I sought an object for my love; I was in love with love, and I hated safety and a path free of snares." When I first read these two sentences, I immediately started to recall high school. In high school, most people just want to be loved by everyone and have that perfect relationship that everyone else would be jealous of-- relationship goals. As the quiet kid who enjoyed school, I can relate. I wanted to have that love for someone and them love me back. I wanted to have that relationship. But, because I was quiet and quite shy, I had a small circle. Everyone knew me, but only a hand full of people really knew me.
He also "hated safety and a path free of snares." This sounds like every student you will ever find anywhere (well maybe not every student). As teenagers and young adults, it seems as if we are drawn to drama and danger and excitement. We crave the adrenaline. We love the adventure. We like to live life on the edge and live like Larry. Teenagers tend to do stupid things just because they can, or because it gives them a rush. A couple examples include rolling people's houses (is this considered living life on the edge and living like Larry?), texting and driving, driving without a seatbelt, jumping through a fire (I have watched plenty of guys do this), speeding, and I could give hundreds more examples. The fact of the matter is that teenagers and young adults sometimes do things that aren't smart for a thrill.
Augustine also talks on his captivation on theatrical shows. In chapter four, he tells readers that he found a "love for suffering" in these shows. Of course he is not a fan off his own suffering, because that'd be weird. He loved to hear other's suffering in the shows. Does this not describe many people you know? Or maybe even yourself? Hearing about others and their struggles can distract you from your own suffering and pain. Sound familiar yet? We talked in class about how we like to hear a "good testimony." We enjoy the dirty, real one more than an uninteresting one. This is the same concept. We try to make ourselves feel better or distract ourselves from our problems, which is exactly what Augustine is doing. He is distracting himself from his struggle with God.
In chapter six, Augustine talks about "the Wreckers." He hangs out with this group just because he wants to look cool or because he wants to seem popular--I don't know the real reason. But, haven't we all, at some point in our lives, hung around people who aren't necessarily a great group but they make us look good or feel cool?
It always amazes me how similar people are even when they are separated by hundreds of years. People really do not change that much.
Sydney Snow
P.S. I commented on Gray's and Eliza's post
He also "hated safety and a path free of snares." This sounds like every student you will ever find anywhere (well maybe not every student). As teenagers and young adults, it seems as if we are drawn to drama and danger and excitement. We crave the adrenaline. We love the adventure. We like to live life on the edge and live like Larry. Teenagers tend to do stupid things just because they can, or because it gives them a rush. A couple examples include rolling people's houses (is this considered living life on the edge and living like Larry?), texting and driving, driving without a seatbelt, jumping through a fire (I have watched plenty of guys do this), speeding, and I could give hundreds more examples. The fact of the matter is that teenagers and young adults sometimes do things that aren't smart for a thrill.
Augustine also talks on his captivation on theatrical shows. In chapter four, he tells readers that he found a "love for suffering" in these shows. Of course he is not a fan off his own suffering, because that'd be weird. He loved to hear other's suffering in the shows. Does this not describe many people you know? Or maybe even yourself? Hearing about others and their struggles can distract you from your own suffering and pain. Sound familiar yet? We talked in class about how we like to hear a "good testimony." We enjoy the dirty, real one more than an uninteresting one. This is the same concept. We try to make ourselves feel better or distract ourselves from our problems, which is exactly what Augustine is doing. He is distracting himself from his struggle with God.
In chapter six, Augustine talks about "the Wreckers." He hangs out with this group just because he wants to look cool or because he wants to seem popular--I don't know the real reason. But, haven't we all, at some point in our lives, hung around people who aren't necessarily a great group but they make us look good or feel cool?
It always amazes me how similar people are even when they are separated by hundreds of years. People really do not change that much.
Sydney Snow
P.S. I commented on Gray's and Eliza's post
You said it all in this one! The best thing about this type of literature thus far is how relatable and real it is. Basic human tendencies have and will remain the same! Great blog with good, thoughtful content!
ReplyDeleteI love this concept! No matter when they live, people are still people. Your observations in this post are just some of many I have come across. It's part of human nature to do these things. One extra observation, when Augustine talks about loving the theater because he liked watching others suffer, I agree that it's like when we like to watch other people's drama but not have any ourselves. But I also think it's just like watching TV. People, especially young adults, get extremely invested in their favorite shows. It's kind of like the ancient plays, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteWe are so fundamentally flawed as people born with a sin nature. Thank goodness God decided to give us a way out. And even after all He’s done for us, our nature still takes over at time; we push back and turn from the God who gave it all for us.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if this comment is going to work, but I completely agree with what you're saying bro! We are always caught up in some sort of drama, whether it's someone else's cup of tea or the worst breakup you've ever experienced, but we can't seem to get rid of our enjoyment over the suffering of others. The distractions today run rampant, and we are heavily affected by this as a generation who lives for this. So the question is, can we break the human nature?
ReplyDelete- Zane Duke
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