Imagination Redeemed Great-Souled Living
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Jan 12, 2026 In this engaging discussion, storyteller Matthew Clark, known for his captivating readings, and musician Christina Brown, who enriches the conversation with insights on hospitality, dive into the concept of pusillanimity, or 'smallness of soul.' They explore how comparison and societal pressures can stifle generosity. Through Tolstoy's tale of Martin the cobbler, the duo emphasizes that true generosity arises from identity, not resources. They highlight the importance of face-to-face encounters and the courage to act, encouraging listeners to embrace magnanimity in everyday life.
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Tolstoy's Cobbler Meets Christ In The Poor
- Leo Tolstoy's Martin the cobbler welcomes a soldier, a starving mother, and a hungry boy into his tiny home during winter.
- Martin's simple acts reveal he was serving Christ, who later asks, "did you not know me?"
Limits Become Identity In Modern Culture
- Modern culture trains us to lead with limitations as identity markers, shrinking our imagination of what we can become.
- This negative self-measurement breeds pusillanimity — a "smallness of soul" that masquerades as humility.
Three Roots Of Smallness Of Soul
- Aquinas links pusillanimity to three patterns: negative comparison, self-reliance, and dependence on others' opinion.
- These cultivate habits of shrinking back from hard goods and generous acts.