A pilgram’s progress

I spent the last two days listening to a modernized but unabridged version of a pilgram’s progress. It’s an allegory in which the main character “Christian” journeys to the celestial gates but along the way, he encounters obstacles. I had never read it before, and considering the circumstances, seemed like a good time.

I have my criticisms of it (17th century propaganda is still propaganda) but i did reflect on it in terms of American organized religion compared to what i am seeing here in the European countryside. Long story short, american faith leaders are so far from Christ and have lost all understanding of what it means to live according to God’s word. I know that isn’t a big shock to anyone but the hypocrisy is almost poetic against the backdrop of Christian’s journey.

One theme I keep coming across (i’m listening to several other audiobooks and reading one real book as well as absorbing a lot of history) is the will to live and how preserving through difficulty is what creates our humanity. In times of deep desperation, people contemplate not living anymore. Christian contemplates taking his life, but is reminded by Hopeful that to do so means to give up means there is no Hope of improvement. Edmond Dantes (Count of Monte Cristo) is attempting suicide until he meets Abbey Faria and is astonished by the ingenuity and purpose the Abbey has invested into escaping.

What does it mean to be alive? Or to have lived?

Does it mean having things to live for? Or just being biologically alive? Does it mean having hope? Faith?

Conversely, what has someone who wants to die lost? Or what do they lack?

Is to want to live part of the human condition and if we want to die, we are removed from our humanity? Or do those who want to die understand humanity more because they feel they have lost it?

Struggle without hope = fatalism

Hope without struggle = naivety

Therefore to struggle with hope = ??? what exactly? Life, purpose, humanity, futility, passion, pain…i don’t know.

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Not a lot of scenic views today but i walked through a lot of farm land and saw a lot of baby animals. I also stopped by a waterfall and nibbled on cheese and sipped sangria for a few hours this afternoon.

Tomorrow is a rest day. Laundry, swimming and napping are on my agenda. I have about 46 more kilometers to get to Santiago.Lue lisää