Real enjoyment comes not in what one enjoys but in the idea. If I had in my service a submissive jinni (aka genie) who, when I asked for a glass of water, would bring me the world's most expensive wines, deliciously blended, in a goblet, I would dismiss him until he learned that the enjoyment consists not in what I enjoy, but in getting my own way.
Let me start off with admitting that, if anyone in the world is guilty of this, it is me. I HAVE to be right all the time. If it doesn't happen like I said it, It won't happen at all. One more time just for emphasis: I HAVE TO HAVE IT MY OWN WAY.
That being said, I was actually convicted by that particular bit of Kierkegaard's ramblings. Here we have a genie who, when one asks for something as simple as a glass of water, brings the finest wines in the world to him. The genie is then dismissed because he did not bring what the person wanted.
This is almost like our walk with God. Sometimes we ask for something we think is good for us, then instead He gives us something greater. Unfortunately, we're human, and we are upset with God because we do not get what we want. We then proceed to ignore His will for us because it didn't happen like we wanted it.
Coincidence that I was thinking about this today and then read Kierkegaard? I think not.
~Cody Martin
P.S. Commented on Tori Burger's Keeping Up With the Ivanoviches
We, as humans can be so selfish and ungrateful sometimes. I like how you talked wanting things a special way, rather that just wanting more and more things. Burger King knows how to please us with its "Have it your way" slogan. The thing is, we think we know what we want and what we need, but in reality we know nothing. It's hard to accept something when you asked for something else, but God knows what is best for us, so we should be excited and grateful that He is taking the lead and not following our ideas.
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