Sometimes it comes easily.
Sometimes it is hard to find.
Sometimes apathy shoves it aside.
Sometimes I don't mind.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
In the Words of Edward L. Hayes
"Exegesis [the process of drawing out of a text its intended meaning] involves a process: (1) examining the text itself, its origin and wording, (2) scrutiny of translation, (3) discovery of historical context -- authorship, setting, and dating, (4) analysis of literary context, (5) determining the genre or literary type, (6) outlining and diagramming structure, (7) classification of grammar and syntax, (8) systematically studying a given truth in the setting of all revealed truth, and (9) applying the text.
"In short, three basic questions may be asked of any text: What does it say? What does it mean? How does it impact me? Care must be given, however, not to shortchange all the steps of exegesis lest a learner rush to a personal application that is totally unwarranted from the biblical data."
Of the Three steps Edward encourages readers to take, the middle seems to be the most ignored, and for good reason! It's the one that takes the most work! Reading words directly off a page can be pretty easy. Deciding how we are going to let it impact us can be a bit more complicated, but by following either the heart or the head a decision is usually made fairly quickly (often while still reading the words on the page). Taking the time to pause before rendering judgement and looking deeper into the actual meaning takes patience, brain power, and sometimes even courage.
I find this applicable not only with the Bible, but with any text that we go to seeking understanding. Often times we jump straight to personal connections such as: How does it make you feel? What are you going to do about it? These are important of course, but secondary to the true meaning. Before jumping to action we should seek understanding. The origin, authorship, purpose, and context are crucial to understanding any text's meaning. For example... pretend, just for a moment, that we found a piece of a document written by Martin Luther King Jr. saying that all blacks should be slaves. Knowing what we know about MLK Jr. I would hope that you would be rather skeptical of that opinion actually being his. Now through careful research and study it could possibly turn out that he was making this statement not as his own opinion, but stating the opinion of someone he disagrees with in order to refute that flawed opinion. By simply jumping to a heart decision before seeking the true meaning of the text we would slander the very memory of a great human rights activist. Similar misunderstandings could take place when a text written for entertainment is taken literally, or when poetry is taken as science. The intention of the author must be considered.
I am sidetracking myself, as usual. The true reason I found this so intriguing today during my reading was that these steps don't just apply to reading, they apply to basic conversation, and every day interaction. If we were to judge people/text/movies/songs/etc... less on what they say, and more on what they mean we might find our experience here greatly changed! A person who offended you by not carefully choosing their words most likely still had good intentions yet a friendship is sacrificed due to linguistics. A song with inappropriate content is played in commercials, at ball games, or even in school assemblies simply because 'it doesn't actually say it.' Movies create innuendos that without so much a word, but we catch their meaning.
My point for this entry I suppose is just to pause, before rendering judgement, and look at what the author/speaker/artist is trying to communicate, and how you will choose to let that message effect you.
"In short, three basic questions may be asked of any text: What does it say? What does it mean? How does it impact me? Care must be given, however, not to shortchange all the steps of exegesis lest a learner rush to a personal application that is totally unwarranted from the biblical data."
Of the Three steps Edward encourages readers to take, the middle seems to be the most ignored, and for good reason! It's the one that takes the most work! Reading words directly off a page can be pretty easy. Deciding how we are going to let it impact us can be a bit more complicated, but by following either the heart or the head a decision is usually made fairly quickly (often while still reading the words on the page). Taking the time to pause before rendering judgement and looking deeper into the actual meaning takes patience, brain power, and sometimes even courage.
I find this applicable not only with the Bible, but with any text that we go to seeking understanding. Often times we jump straight to personal connections such as: How does it make you feel? What are you going to do about it? These are important of course, but secondary to the true meaning. Before jumping to action we should seek understanding. The origin, authorship, purpose, and context are crucial to understanding any text's meaning. For example... pretend, just for a moment, that we found a piece of a document written by Martin Luther King Jr. saying that all blacks should be slaves. Knowing what we know about MLK Jr. I would hope that you would be rather skeptical of that opinion actually being his. Now through careful research and study it could possibly turn out that he was making this statement not as his own opinion, but stating the opinion of someone he disagrees with in order to refute that flawed opinion. By simply jumping to a heart decision before seeking the true meaning of the text we would slander the very memory of a great human rights activist. Similar misunderstandings could take place when a text written for entertainment is taken literally, or when poetry is taken as science. The intention of the author must be considered.
I am sidetracking myself, as usual. The true reason I found this so intriguing today during my reading was that these steps don't just apply to reading, they apply to basic conversation, and every day interaction. If we were to judge people/text/movies/songs/etc... less on what they say, and more on what they mean we might find our experience here greatly changed! A person who offended you by not carefully choosing their words most likely still had good intentions yet a friendship is sacrificed due to linguistics. A song with inappropriate content is played in commercials, at ball games, or even in school assemblies simply because 'it doesn't actually say it.' Movies create innuendos that without so much a word, but we catch their meaning.
My point for this entry I suppose is just to pause, before rendering judgement, and look at what the author/speaker/artist is trying to communicate, and how you will choose to let that message effect you.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
I LOVE Reading
I am currently reading 'The Screwtape Letters.' During the many layovers and hours in the airplanes I finished 'Have a Little Faith' by the author of 'Tuesday's With Morey' and 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Album).' It was quite excellent. I read a ridiculous romance called 'The Ten Things I Love About You' and re-read the third Harry Potter. I find fiction equally helpful sometimes in looking at things from another perspective.
Mitch Album's books are excellent. All three of them. He has a fourth, but I have not yet read it. His honesty and integrity while writing is really what makes his books worthwhile. He does not strive to come across as a sage, or as someone with greater then average intelligence. He gives honest and insightful glimpses into the lives of some truly incredible people as they go through some of life's most challenging moments. He does not seek to force any specific world view or religious preference upon his reader's, but, in his style of journalism he presents his discoveries and leaves the reader to make whatever choices and assumptions that need to be made.
I would suggest that any and all skip the corny romance one. It's not worth your time. Just a time filler I found at the airport. I was (to be honest) drawn in by the time period (got to love Pride and Prejudice) and the offer of some good old fashioned clean romance. I was sadly disappointed. It was cute and had all the makings of a great Jane Austin style story, but got WAY sidetracked several times in describing the carnal desires and the sexual activities of every one of the characters. Not quite my style of book...
If you want fiction that is deep though I find C.S. Lewis' Perelandra series, all of Lois Lowery's works (The Giver, The Messenger, The Gathering Blue...), The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Goodness Gene by Sonia Levitin, and The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer all to be thought provoking and enjoyable. Other must reads are The Lorax and the Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss (I know what you are thinking, but give them a chance. They are far different from green egg's and ham and provide an excellent jumping off point for some really thought provoking discussions).
I know my suggested book list differs greatly from any that you will find anywhere else on the internet, but that is intentional, for several reasons. Firstly, I LOVE TO READ! I am not about to give that up by forcing myself through piles of dusty old books that someone once upon a time decided are classics that everyone should read but that everyone who read's... quite honestly... hates. If a book is worth reading then it should draw you in and captivate your attention. I do not condemn the classics, in fact, I find that Shakespeare's works are still applicable (though very melodramatic), I personally loved 'A Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovitch' and 'A Diary of Ann Frank' and I thought 'The Iliad' 'The Oddessy' and 'Dante's Inferno' were quite captivating. I have no love for 'A Farewell to Arms' or 'The Great Gatsby' or 'Walden Pond' which I'm sure have some excellent metaphors and lessons, but are so burdened with dreadfully uninteresting descriptions with little emotion or connection to the reader that most of the lessons go unlearned.
I am well aware of the fact that most of the books on my 'to read' list are considered young adult or children. There is a reason for that. After all, I am a teacher of children. That is only part, however. I also find that adult literature all to often is 'adult' literature. I do not need the risque, the violent, and the sexual in order to come to a greater understanding about the world. I live in the world and understand how these desires and impulses affect the every day life. I wish to read about something a bit higher then basic animalistic instincts. I also enjoy happy endings. I am aware of the fact that this is not realistic. I don't need it to be. If I want realistic I can take my nose out of the book and stick it out the window. I think most people prefer to have hope, however, hope that for a few moments life can (when we work hard and make good choices) work out for the best.
My eyes keep crossing and I am babbling so I suppose that will have to be all for now, but in summation, I LOVE to read, I prefer happy endings and books that challenge me to see the world from a new perspective. Have some recommendations? I would love to hear them. :)
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