Comments on: The earnest will cause the trouble http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/ Building bridges, connecting community, village alchemy . Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:42:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Karuna http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1038 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:37:39 +0000 http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1038 “Earnest = Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; used in a good sense”

Hmmm….for me earnestness has always held a kernel of integrity to it, or authenticity (at least reaching for it), so I’m not so quick to “judge” earnestness as something less than passion. Yes, “ardent in pursuit of an object” or “…to obtain or do.” certainly speaks to the need to seek, at least validation outside ourselves. But can one be earnest about something an not “need” others being involved?
Thanks for this rich discussion, Nate. Good to be connected!
Peace.

]]> By: Nate http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1015 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:13:52 +0000 http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1015 Britt, I like your questions.

To me, earnestness involves others being in on our passion. Passion is what we feel inside ourselves. When it becomes earnestness, we need others to feel, understand, and accept our passion. This doesn’t seem right to me. Passion should be felt and expressed for passion’s sake. If no one else feels it, should our passion die? If it does, I question whether we were really passionate at all.

I probably wouldn’t make the distinction between sense and emotion. Both are involved in in passion and earnestness. It is the lack of awareness, grace, freedom-giving, etc that turns passion into earnestness.

]]> By: Brittany http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1010 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:35:42 +0000 http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1010 Naters! How do you think earnestness is like passion? according to ARdictionary.com:

Earnest = Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; used in a good sense

Passion = The state of the mind when it is powerfully acted upon and influenced by something external to itself; the state of any particular faculty which, under such conditions, becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited

So maybe the former is more controlled by sense and the latter, by emotion? Hmm.

I have been feeling what I consider both earnestness and passion lately for lots of things. I agree with what you have to say. But sometimes I am so afraid of being seen as demanding or close-minded that I don’t even open up about my passions. So I think there needs to be a balance between the two. How to get there…I am still trying to figure that out!

Love you! Thanks for your thoughts. See you in a few weeks. YAY!!!!

]]> By: Bonny http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1009 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:08:49 +0000 http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1009 thanks for this…

]]> By: redbarn http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1008 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:12:14 +0000 http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1008 Well said Nate. Being able to let go and let people go through their process, or better yet join them in their process, rather than control the process, takes a large mount of humility, as well as trust in the One who started the process. Your words are in good company with the words from a seer of old…

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

I just wish I could grasp the humble pie of it better :>

]]> By: Dustyfoot http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1007 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:53:02 +0000 http://natebettger.com/2009/12/01/the-earnest-will-cause-the-trouble/#comment-1007 Oy! I am impressed.

Maybe Christianity can be more than a rigid set of rules decided by the interpretation of it’s followers. Maybe it can be life. A great and powerful affirmation to the lost, the scared, the alone. Not a magnet that pulls everyone toward a single path and way of life, but a light that illuminates the dark corners of the world. Not drawing to a point but drawing to a million different points, a million individual points. To draw a million different beautiful pictures.

Sunsets are beautiful and awe inspiring because not a single one is as the last.

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