I tend to expect a lot I suppose. Or want a lot. I want better. I want to know more. And sometimes this leaves you dissatisfied with the simple. The last year or so I’ve been thinking about this idea a lot. Discontentedness that comes from lack of this idealized reality that we build up for ourselves. (Oh this reminds me of this podcast – look for the one called “Hyper reality” if you’re interested). Anyways here is a quote from GK. I love him for stuff like this. Soo good. And it makes me laugh.
The greater and stronger a man is the more he would be inclined to prostrate himself before a periwinkle.
That Mr. Shaw keeps a lifted
head and a contemptuous face before the colossal panorama of empires
and civilizations, this does not in itself convince one that he sees
things as they are. I should be most effectively convinced that he did
if I found him staring with religious astonishment at his own feet.
“What are those two beautiful and industrious beings,” I can imagine him
murmuring to himself, “whom I see everywhere, serving me I know not why?
What fairy godmother bade them come trotting out of elfland when I
was born? What god of the borderland, what barbaric god of legs,
must I propitiate with fire and wine, lest they run away with me?”
The truth is, that all genuine appreciation rests on a certain
mystery of humility and almost of darkness. The man who said,
“Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed,”
put the eulogy quite inadequately and even falsely. The truth “Blessed
is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall be gloriously surprised.”
The man who expects nothing sees redder roses than common men can see,
and greener grass, and a more startling sun. Blessed is he that
expecteth nothing, for he shall possess the cities and the mountains;
blessed is the meek, for he shall inherit the earth. Until we
realize that things might not be we cannot realize that things are.
Until we see the background of darkness we cannot admire the light
as a single and created thing. As soon as we have seen that darkness,
all light is lightening, sudden, blinding, and divine.
Until we picture nonentity we underrate the victory of God,
and can realize none of the trophies of His ancient war.
It is one of the million wild jests of truth that we know nothing
until we know nothing.
- GK Chesterton