Comments on: The Two Faces of Restlessness http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/ Carl McColman ~ The Fullness of Joy is to Behold God in All Wed, 23 May 2012 13:15:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: noel http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5490 noel Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:09:34 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5490 mine too destructive maybe the call to live here and now to be fully present to accept" God from whom all goodness comes" mine too
destructive
maybe the call to live here and now
to be fully present
to accept” God from whom all goodness comes”

]]> By: trev http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5489 trev Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:55:15 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5489 I recognize that creative restlessness. It gnaws in my heart. I recognize that creative restlessness. It gnaws in my heart.

]]> By: Ted http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5488 Ted Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:29:58 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5488 As always, a great reflection. Like Mike, I immediately thought of Augustine's words as another means of relating to the creative or "holy" restlessness that leads us further on the journey. While the "other" restlessness has as its symptom a certain seeking of distraction and escape, it is itself the product of a boredom with one's life, surroundings, experiences, etc... that seems endemic of the age. I think the irony here is that if I dig deep enough, that all of this leads back to a yearning for the Divine, for the abundant life, to be loved and respond in love that is that seeking for the place of resting in God. As always, a great reflection. Like Mike, I immediately thought of Augustine’s words as another means of relating to the creative or “holy” restlessness that leads us further on the journey. While the “other” restlessness has as its symptom a certain seeking of distraction and escape, it is itself the product of a boredom with one’s life, surroundings, experiences, etc… that seems endemic of the age. I think the irony here is that if I dig deep enough, that all of this leads back to a yearning for the Divine, for the abundant life, to be loved and respond in love that is that seeking for the place of resting in God.

]]> By: claire http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5487 claire Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:34:02 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5487 I wonder what the monk meant by restlessness. It must be strange to live in an environment where suddenly all the distractions of every day life are gone. Just inner distractions, or irritations from having to live so close to other monks... In which way a monk's restlessness is more destructive than your creative restlessness? I also like very much Pollinatrix' quote about the Spirit of restlessness taking us out of our placidness... Maybe monks are not placid because life in such close quarters in a community is not in the cards. Placidness may be possible for those who live as they wish, in a self-centered spirituality... Not sure. Thank you for stirring up all these thoughts :-) I wonder what the monk meant by restlessness. It must be strange to live in an environment where suddenly all the distractions of every day life are gone. Just inner distractions, or irritations from having to live so close to other monks…

In which way a monk’s restlessness is more destructive than your creative restlessness?

I also like very much Pollinatrix’ quote about the Spirit of restlessness taking us out of our placidness…

Maybe monks are not placid because life in such close quarters in a community is not in the cards.

Placidness may be possible for those who live as they wish, in a self-centered spirituality…

Not sure. Thank you for stirring up all these thoughts :-)

]]> By: Sue http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5486 Sue Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:58:57 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5486 Oh, yeah, nice one, Carl :) Definitely a big difference between those two types of restlessness. The creative sort brings to mind the spirit brooding over the waters. Oh, yeah, nice one, Carl :) Definitely a big difference between those two types of restlessness. The creative sort brings to mind the spirit brooding over the waters.

]]> By: buttersisonlymyname http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5485 buttersisonlymyname Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:45:41 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5485 Great post. This is something like the distinction Sri Aurobindo makes between desire and aspiration. To remove all restlessness is to remove all movement, and that is just the end of life. Great post. This is something like the distinction Sri Aurobindo makes between desire and aspiration.

To remove all restlessness is to remove all movement, and that is just the end of life.

]]> By: The Pollinatrix http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5484 The Pollinatrix Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:55:08 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5484 Man oh man - this word has been coming up all over the place for me in the past couple of days. I really like what you're saying here. Yesterday in church we sang the song "Spirit." Do you know it? There's that line that repeats: "Spirit, Spirit of restlessness stir me from placidness, wind on the sea." Man oh man – this word has been coming up all over the place for me in the past couple of days. I really like what you’re saying here. Yesterday in church we sang the song “Spirit.” Do you know it? There’s that line that repeats: “Spirit, Spirit of restlessness stir me from placidness, wind on the sea.”

]]> By: Gary Snead http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5483 Gary Snead Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:33:22 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5483 Our dog Molly is restless more often than stable. Just over 4 years old, mixed breed, she is restless to be let outside to relieve physical needs of evacuation and exercise. She is restless to be near, sometimes very near one of us for affection. She even can be restless while in her 'sit, stay' posture, her ears twitching, eyes shifting in anticipation. With sufficient satisfaction of her physical and affection needs she can be stable, calm, content, for a while, until she's aware of a need again, a sound comes from the door announcing someone else is here, or other sounds, smells may catch her attention. Do we seek stability by denying physical and affection (emotional) needs, or beyond denial refocus acceptance that the need can be met spiritually or with some different affection or physical act than we initially expect or are trained to accept? Do we seek stability by eliminating sensory input alerting us of change - other's speech, our speech, knocks at the door, planes overhead, etc., or by anchoring and streamlining through spiritual disciplines, trials, prayers, service we can float above, flow with or be unmoved from our purpose by the things that tug at our hearts, souls, minds and spirits? Our dog Molly is restless more often than stable. Just over 4 years old, mixed breed, she is restless to be let outside to relieve physical needs of evacuation and exercise. She is restless to be near, sometimes very near one of us for affection. She even can be restless while in her ‘sit, stay’ posture, her ears twitching, eyes shifting in anticipation. With sufficient satisfaction of her physical and affection needs she can be stable, calm, content, for a while, until she’s aware of a need again, a sound comes from the door announcing someone else is here, or other sounds, smells may catch her attention. Do we seek stability by denying physical and affection (emotional) needs, or beyond denial refocus acceptance that the need can be met spiritually or with some different affection or physical act than we initially expect or are trained to accept? Do we seek stability by eliminating sensory input alerting us of change – other’s speech, our speech, knocks at the door, planes overhead, etc., or by anchoring and streamlining through spiritual disciplines, trials, prayers, service we can float above, flow with or be unmoved from our purpose by the things that tug at our hearts, souls, minds and spirits?

]]> By: noel http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5482 noel Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:28:38 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5482 separation from god...........sin even jesus pained when he descended to hell for 3 days cos that was first time he was separated from god his father separation from god………..sin
even jesus pained when he descended to hell for 3 days cos that was first time he was separated from god his father

]]> By: Frank http://www.anamchara.com/2010/01/11/the-two-faces-of-restlessness/#comment-5481 Frank Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:04:06 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2834#comment-5481 I might also bring up the restlessness that impells us to go forward. Think of Jeremiah who talked about the Word being "a fire inmy bones". There is a holy dissatisfaction and restlessnesss which impells us to act as well. I might also bring up the restlessness that impells us to go forward. Think of Jeremiah who talked about the Word being “a fire inmy bones”. There is a holy dissatisfaction and restlessnesss which impells us to act as well.

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