A musician goes haywire. I can still enjoy his original albums as though he never did.
It’s much easier for me to enjoy the works (art, literature, technology) of dark people when I realize that all their goods are owned by Another. All their light is a reflection originating from elsewhere.
“To the pure, all things are pure…” (Titus 1:15)
Every book by King Solomon.
The epic performance of Hollywood Actors and Actresses.
The products of Steve Jobs (he had a dark side).
This weekend I heard a clear expression of “Mormon atheism”:
“I sometimes wonder if in the Sacred Grove Joseph Smith realized there was no God, and came up with a religion to help people deal with that.”
Mormonism and atheism are left with same existential dread. They both fail to satisfy the bottom of our hearts. Neither can make us truly happy.
A forever-family with all others can’t satisfy the eternity God has put in our hearts. Not even ever-increasing pleasure. Not even having a resurrected body. Not even being forever-married. Not even creating worlds without number. Not even “understand[ing] all mysteries and all knowledge.”
Even if we had all that there would still be something fundamentally missing. The dreadful hole would not be filled. People would still feel tempted to commit suicide. We would still cry,
“Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
Only a personal relationship with the Most High God can take resolve human existential dread. Anything else is just suppression, survival strategy, or coping mechanism. All other methods and religions underestimate what it takes for the human heart to be truly happy.
“You have formed us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in you.” (Augustine)
Everything else is ultimately unsatisfying. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)
Friends are like seasons: Some warm with happiness, others cold with depression. Each beautiful in their own way. Sometimes succeeding but never replacing the others.
Human death stings and enslaves. It is something to be screamed at and conquered. Not to be reduced to a cessation of pain.
It is always the result of tragedy. It always stops something that should have continued. Nothing makes it OK.
Nothing short of resurrection to joy makes it something to became at peace with or comfortable with.
Braden, I thought our conversations would continue for decades to come. I loved YOU, economics-loving atheist friend. I enjoyed having those conversations WITH YOU. YOU were an amazing human being. I am crushed and devastated. I HATE death and I want you back. And you were WRONG about life not having any intrinsic value, because YOU had it.
More memories of Braden:
He was leaving Remedy and got an offer at Lendio. I had recently joined Instructure. I convinced him to apply here before he took the position. He BCC’d me his e-mail to Lendio:
“To be frank, the main obstacle at this point is that Aaron Shafovaloff decided to go with Instructure. I would be excited to work with Aaron again, so I would have a hard time accepting an offer right now without at least meeting with Instructure.”
That meant a lot to me. He was my friend. And I miss him.
A coworker writes:
“Precisely…I just hear his voice ringing in my ear when i think of that word. I’d struggle to grasp and then put into words some developer concept, and when i finally explained it correctly, he’d quickly response in an upbeat voice…”PRECISELY”. That particular response always made me feel like I had it more together than I actually ever did.”
God is a unique speech-actor. He can create what he commands in the very act of commanding: “Let there be light.”
But humans are hilariously and pitifully different: When we announce our intentions we are less likely to follow through.
At the risk of losing some friends, but to the benefit of those vulnerable, let me describe what makes for a good MLM (multi-level marketing business). It:
I have a seen a few good examples of direct sales (cleaning products, bags, scrapbooking, craft supplies, candles). But the vast majority of MLMs do not pass muster. Most people think their MLM is the exception. Maybe yours is, but the bar is high.
I am not trying to judge you. Good, intelligent people have soiled relationships and wasted thousands of dollars on MLMs. I am trying to help you. Your best friends may feel reluctant to critique your MLM. They love you. They don’t want to lose their relationship with you.
If you need to provide for a family, then responsibly develop a career, cultivate a skill set, get an education, look for an internship, or start an entry-level position. If your family needs supplemental income, then look for part-time or contract work. You probably should not waste your time on MLMs. If you want residual income, then develop a residual skill set lucrative to the marketplace of dignified, daily work. Your family and friends and children and church and local community are cheering you on!
Further reading:
1. Even if a report is true, is it not merciful to contain its impact, to regard the reputation of another as precious? “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1) “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)
2. Love comes with an optimism: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7) Optimism about another can be undeserved — even eventually disproven — but gracious. Better to be wronged than to wrong. Better to be lied to than to lie about another. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.” (1 Peter 2:19) “Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1 Corinthians 6:7)
3. Love isn’t safe: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” (C.S. Lewis)
4. The only realistic human alternative to giving each other the general benefit of doubt is hypervigilant cynicism. What an awful climate for love! To walk on eggshells, to constantly judge, to be on guard, and assume others are judging you. To constantly think of yourself, and be convinced that no one loves you. To be hypercritical and assuming — this makes for a resistant, quarrelsome, reviling, rude misery.
5. But no! True Christians are a forgiven people. Here is the most beautiful part. He was so good to us, so gracious. How can we not love others with an undeserved submission, obedience, gentleness, and perfect courtesy? Watch how Paul brings it all together:
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:1-5)
Paul’s 2000-year-old description of the worst of Facebook:
Paul’s manual for Christian Facebook behavior:
This is from Titus 3:1-5. Incredible!
Surgeons methodically operate on a half-dozen patients and then tell jokes at dinner.
Parents throw children high up into the air that are more valuable than all the money in the world.
Astronauts in space play with floating water on web camera to students in a classroom.
Hikers fall asleep on mountains under the stars.
Royal kings and queens in the image of God eat chili dogs and watch baseball.
We experience the epic so casually! The human experience is breathtaking! The angels must shout at us from their perch!
Part of what makes humanity humanity… to be finite… to be small and created… and to live in wonder of God and life and creation and drama and beauty around us… is to use dramatic hyperbole, myth, exaggerations… We ironically need overstatements because life really is more wonderful than the language we have for it. Epic indeed.
“Sometimes you never realize the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
I Am Aaron Shafovaloff 