"Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve been taught to want." This line is burned into my mind. Thanks Jen, I'm planning to re-visit this essay and share with Drew. And congrats on your daughter's wedding!
Such a needed post, Jen! You’ve provided language to what’s happening in my interior world as my husband and I are discerning our next thing. Our desires seem to shift day to day. And congratulations on your ever growing family!
Can certainly relate to being "taught to want" mimetically, in ways as large as the city changes you describe and as small as visiting new churches when we've moved. I was reminded of this when going through old photos of years past recently, in addition to attending a few churches in our newish town here. Even something as seemingly small as a church culture and the people one meets and befriends there can influence so much interior wanting and (seemingly) organic desires. As unnerving as it was to realize how sensitive I was to the cultures absorbed, I'm grateful to be a bit more aware of it. Influence can be good! But it can overshadow some aspects of who we know ourselves to be, and what the Spirit is telling *us* for any given thing.
You’re absolutely right that there are smaller cultures of which we are a part and by which we are shaped! Burgis’s book has great suggestions for staying attentive and attuned and yes also resistant as it’s possible and necessary!
"Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve been taught to want." This line is burned into my mind. Thanks Jen, I'm planning to re-visit this essay and share with Drew. And congrats on your daughter's wedding!
Such a needed post, Jen! You’ve provided language to what’s happening in my interior world as my husband and I are discerning our next thing. Our desires seem to shift day to day. And congratulations on your ever growing family!
I’m glad it was helpful, Lori!
Enjoyed reading this, I was not familiar with mimesis. I look forward to the next zoom call!
Glad you’re planning to join!
Can certainly relate to being "taught to want" mimetically, in ways as large as the city changes you describe and as small as visiting new churches when we've moved. I was reminded of this when going through old photos of years past recently, in addition to attending a few churches in our newish town here. Even something as seemingly small as a church culture and the people one meets and befriends there can influence so much interior wanting and (seemingly) organic desires. As unnerving as it was to realize how sensitive I was to the cultures absorbed, I'm grateful to be a bit more aware of it. Influence can be good! But it can overshadow some aspects of who we know ourselves to be, and what the Spirit is telling *us* for any given thing.
You’re absolutely right that there are smaller cultures of which we are a part and by which we are shaped! Burgis’s book has great suggestions for staying attentive and attuned and yes also resistant as it’s possible and necessary!
I heard A J Swoboda teach in Oregon some years back and read his book. Sounds like a fun zoom call.
Hope you can join! It’s going to be a great conversation!
Thank you. What’s the process to join?
I will be sharing all the zoom info here on Substack closer to the date!
Thank you! Will try to join in and note on my calendar.
I’m glad, Sara! Hope the final stretch for book 2 is going well!