Despite the fact that this allegory had many religious undertones, I couldn't help but also look at from the perspective of society in general whether or not it involved our faith. I pictured something along the lines of a businessman, maybe an insurance salesman (think Mr. Incredible), sitting behind a cubicle and writing up proposals or whatever, always striving to Earn the next promotion or raise. We all know this scenario that Hollywood often portrays as a numb, empty existence and a father who forgets his son's soccer game. However Hollywoodified this scene is, there is a lot of truth to it. Often, we go through with the monotony of life , living solely for survival and advancement, climbing that ladder and running the race with no finish line, that we forget to just stop aiming for our selfish goals. As Christians, what are we striving so desperately for if this world is only our temporary home? Sometimes I think God is watching us from Heaven screaming, "Why do you care so much about trivial accomplishments?! Don't you know that eternity with Me is your ultimate goal?"
P.s. commented on Danielle's
Word. I think that we get caught up in this general plight of humanity, constantly repeating ourselves, never making any progress. We neglect transcendence because we are inconvenienced by it. When did it all start that we were not content just staying put? From a christian stand point, one might say the garden.
ReplyDeleteAlso agreed. This is definitely one of the main thoughts I had when I read this. When the old man says "It is through this gate that humanity went out countless ages ago, when it was first seized with the desire to walk." I think you're absolutely right that God see's us from heaven and is just heartbroken when we forget our "first love." Especially in today's society I think God, more than anything, is heartbroken that we try to find what He had figured out for us from the beginning in so many other things. We find out so many times in our walk the truth of that fact. We thought we knew what was best, but without exception, God had it all right from the start.
ReplyDeleteI get the picture in my head of a parent watching their child that they love very much grow up and make poor decisions. The parent know a path that would be good for their child but the child chooses to go his/her own way. I wonder how much we dissapoint God when we settle or miss our full potential.
ReplyDeleteAlso also agreed. It's like (and I may have used this before, I don't know) We're so focused on the drink that the waiter brought out to the table, and we're keeping him so busy with refills, that He isn't able to bring our meal out to us. We're still hungry, but we don't even want to focus on the food, we just want more of the drink because we think it will satisfy us. In the end, we leave the restaurant just like we came: starving.
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