Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

Soren writes in this Upbuilding Discourse, "The turbulence of life which carries the child and the youth earlier and earlier out into the pandemonium, gather them into the vociferous crowd or make them vociferous." Sounds like social media. And us adults are no better. Prefer to make your resolutions in silence with God. Keep the crowd out of it. At least that is my takeaway. There is a time to speak up. It takes wisdom to know when to be silent and when to speak.

Soren writes that when we come to the understanding that we are nothing without God, that we need God in order to please God, that is the path to becoming a profitable servant.

Jim Murphy, in his book "Inner Excellence", writes in the Preface that "Self-centeredness is the root cause of all fear." Being cowardly is not of God who desires that we be of good courage. If we are overly fearful, chances are we are focused on ourselves and not God and the good he wants us to experience. * The book is the one that A.J. Brown was reading on the sidelines during the playoff game with the Packers. The book went from being ranked 500,000 and then some to Number 1 on Amazon. In a week.

Soren writes, " Resolution has the winsome faculty of concerning itself with the little things." We may not have a lot of talent, money, time, etc. Or we may have a lot. What we have, God wants. Whether it is a little or a lot. And better to give all of a little than little of a lot.

Soren writes, "Besides all its other good qualities, the good, the truly great and noble, has the quality of not allowing the observer to be indifferent. It elicits a pledge, as it were, from the person who has at once caught a vision of it."

This sounds like some type of 1960's Hippie song. A bit of a travelogue. Keep the holiday season full of good cheer. Live life forwards my good people!

When our decisions are based on God' will, this imparts courage. It doesn't mean that we don't have fear but the confidence gives us courage to carry on. A peaceful conscience is a great gift. I end the podcast with a reading of ChatGPT's AI response to Soren's reflection on Bierkergaard and a little "Shop Local" illustration of the Incarnation. Remember the Reason for the Season.

This episode is me sharing the 5 books that I am reading. 4 are Kierkegaard-focused. One is sort of. The last one, which I just got but not reading yet, is about the worldly effectiveness of Stoicism in addressing both the adversities and joys of life. Yet, It has little hope of eternity and a better world. Share the podcast on social media, write a review on your podcast platform, and reach out on the X for Bierkergaard. And get a review of social media firestorm I created and have been caught in the last 18 or so hours minus sleep. I have no agenda but the truth. So help me God.

Soren writes that pride and cowardliness are the same. The focus on self and not God seems to be the underlying similarity. "The proud person always wants to do the right thing, the great thing, and he is actually struggling not with people, but God" because he wants to do it in his own power. Doing so can also make us fearful because it is all about us. A lot of us is vulnerable when we attempt great things. When we dedicate our efforts to honor God, that self-focus dissipates. We leave the results to him and do not look for affirmation, applause, and attention, from others-particularly the fickle crowd. Those things are wonderful if we receive them. It just can't be the reason why we do it to start with. That is what Soren calls the "Reward Disease."

Soren writes that "That even the progress through life for the most honest contender is difficult" and fear/cowardliness "Gnaws asunder the chain of resolution." So, facing that life is, to one degree or another, difficult for everyone helps us make difficulties normative. And cope with them. When the evening comes, let us say that we continued to walk in the day of difficulties even though it might have been hard. Complaining about the difficulties does nothing to put us on the path of progress. Cope or Mope. Therapeutic culture can trap people in the pain of their past. Face it, cry if you need to, then wipe your tears,and start to walk anew. God is with you. Remember: Jesus is well-acquainted with suffering.