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embrace it

What’s Wrong With the World? Not a Damn Thing | Zen Habits

But there is an alternative, and I’m not saying it’s better. It’s the world-view I try to have: instead of having an ideal, stop looking for perfection. Accept the world as it is, and love it for what it is. Accept people as they are, and love them.

That’s not easy, even if it sounds trite and commonplace. If you haven’t tried it, I recommend you do, because 1) it won’t be easy; and 2) it could open your eyes to the pre-conceived ideals you didn’t realize you had.

What would be the result of this alternative world-view? Well, I think you’d be happier, if only because you didn’t see the world as a fundamentally flawed or evil place, and began to see the good in the world. This, however, is open to individual interpretation, and your own experience is likely to be different than mine.

I think this is, at its core, a beautiful way to live. Be sure to read the whole post.

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8 Comments

  1. jovial_cynic — August 15, 2008 #

    How does this mesh with Paul’s description of the world and the human race as a fallen and corrupt thing?

    I suppose that if we view humanity’s fallen state as a part of God’s design (as a way for us to see His glory manifest in the broken things of the world), I suppose that one can find beauty in *that*, but I think that in that case, we’re talking on different planes. Seeing the “good in the world” shouldn’t be done -in place- of seeing the corruption of it, but rather should be viewed as a layer -on top- of it.

  2. Mak — August 15, 2008 #

    I’m not really thinking about it that deep :) the point is, God chose not to perfect everything - either he can and he won’t, he can but he limited himself so he can’t or he can’t…either way, all of creation groans in longing for the fullness of all things…we all know nothing is perfected so for us to continue seeing things through a lens of “if only it were perfect”, is to invite despair and a loss of seeing things as they are and finding joy there.

    it’s one thing to long for Christ’s return it’s another to bemoan the current state of things. in my evangelical circles, a constant “warring” against things the way they are and whining and carrying on about how horrible everything is was status quo - how depressing. I don’t believe that’s how God wants us to live.

    The blog post specifically mentioned a need to confront evil and injustice, a need to see things as they are but that should be held in tension with acknowledging, esp. as christians, that God is involved and present and we can live fully NOW, be content NOW, have joy NOW and not sit here carrying on about how horrible everything is and having this expectation that “if things would only change”.

    It’s like the person who constantly says “I’ll be happy when…” “I’d be content if….” and never learns to be fully present and fully engaged and fully content in THIS MOMENT

  3. Mark R — August 15, 2008 #

    Accept the world for what it is and love it for what it is - nice thoughts. I can’t change the world BUT I can change me … and this I will continue to do, I think it is called growing up.

  4. Robyn — August 17, 2008 #

    Zen quotes. Links to Zen-ish things. Wow Mak yur getting dangerous!:-)
    Seriously though, thanks for this little shake back into reality. So often we are focused on the future or the what ifs or the yuk around us that we miss what God has placed right before our eyes. A world to be amazed at and people to love.

  5. Carlos — August 17, 2008 #

    Mak,

    to paraphrase Lewis and change it somewhat, truth is truth no matter who express it.. (”if you fairly test the universe, it will basically ring true”…great article

    great world view to have, especially when you’re celebrating 38 year of marriage and your sewer backs up in your basement and when you ae returning the rented roto rooter it tilts and smashes the rear side window of yor wife’s SUV…. doubtles to say, the martines this past Friday night as me and the wife of my youth celebrated our 38 years, tasted damn good…

  6. Mak — August 17, 2008 #

    Robyn - LOL I know! what next right?

    Carlos - wow, I’m sorry, but yay for anniversary martinis! LOL

  7. Carlos — August 17, 2008 #

    Mak,

    No worries as the Aussies would say and to use an ” Indigo Girls” line, “it is only life after all”…

    Just got to put in perspective, there are a lot of worst situaions and I do live in the “Land of Milk and Honey”….

  8. Pingback - Swinging from the Vine » approaching hope — August 20, 2008 #

    [...] The hope communicated here by Rohr is a very Eastern Orthodox view. I have no idea if it’s classically Roman Catholic or not but it’s definitely Eastern … interestingly, it’s also very reminiscint of the Buddhist approach that I talked about here. [...]

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