Wednesday, 28 October 2009
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The Poet's Fear
Auden is writing to a fellow poet here, and his concern is not simply morality, but idolatry. I am not certain, but it is quite possible Auden has in mind the portion of Jonah where Jonah is selfishly begging God for his life back, that seemingly self-effacing prayer in Chapter 2:
God may reduce you
on Judgment Day
To tears of shame,
reciting by heart
The poems you would
have written, had
Your life been good.
- W. H. Auden, About the House
7 When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD."Those who cling to worthless idols, Jonah drones, give up the grace that could be theirs. If you, wonderful poet that you are, brilliant orator that you may be, tuneful composer of hymns, of massive intellect and flawless craft, cling to whatever it is you produce, then God may reduce you to tears, reciting from heart the masterpieces you could have produced if you had worried less about producing and more about who were producing for.
This should not simply be the poet's fear, but the fear of any who seek to please God, and is tempted to enjoy their pleasing too much for its own sake.
What do you produce for the worship of God? How do you balance using it to enjoy God, and enjoying your works to no end?
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- From: SirNickDon@xanga
- Name: Nick Don
- Location: Wichita, Kansas, United States
- About Me: I am the director of college ministries at Shartel Church of God. I have been married for close to two years now, and my wife and I have taken over guardianship of a 17-year-old girl named Ashley, who is in her last year of high school.
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Comments (5)
That's a really inspiring question.
I'm not really sure what I produce to worship God - I don't feel very creative in the art, writing, etc. department. I don't do dance or anything.
I think I mainly just serve. I do that for God. Although, I do get enjoyment/fulfillment out of it, but I believe that comes from God. He made me to serve.
Wow...this is deeply profound...and personally helpful to me as I consider next steps in my life.
See what you think of this minor change, but for me clarifies what I think you're saying "If you...cling to whatever it is you produce, then God may reduce you to tears,
reciting from heart the masterpieces you could have produced if you had
worried less!" [delete - about producing and more about who were producing for.]
I can agree its not about outward morality...and I wonder if its not merely about idolatry, but about anything that is within our heart that keeps us from fully living an abundant life (idolatry, fear, envy). The life God hopes for us: where we revel in our gifting; where 'our deep gladness and the world's deep need meet' (to inaccurately quote Frederick Buechner).
Nice!
wow i so needed to read that. thanks
This was a great post. I know I worry far too much about what it looks like I am accomplishing (to me and other people) than what I am actually accomplishing (for God, and which will last for eternity).
why did this come up when i googled my username: lbxc07?