Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

The Apostle Paul writes to younger Timothy in 2nd Timothy 1:7 that "God did not give us a spirit of cowardliness but a spirit of power and of love and of self-control." Soren sees an "Abundance of intentions and a poverty of action" and "One becoming so high-flying in resolution that one forgets to walk" as evidence of being cowardly. The goal is progress, not perfection. Crawl if you must, just creep in the right direction. There is genius in small beginnings. So start. Dream big, just remember it starts with small steps.

Soren writes, "It (the past) becomes quieter, it becomes gentle, it becomes sad." The Apostle always remembered who he was before he was called by Jesus. A persecutor of the early Church. He didn't live in the past but neither did he forget it. Soren advises that it is good to not look back too often while on the good path. Neither is it wise to be anxious about the future by looking ahead too often in terms of possibility; it makes time go agonizingly slow. As "anxiety borrows strength from the future." Above all, the Apostle Paul's Thorn in the Flesh "reminds us that the highest life also has its sufferings." The takeaway is to learn from the past and prepare for the future. Don't live there.

Thralldom is a noun that means "the state of being under the control of another person or being enslaved." Paul's Thorn in the Flesh was something that tethered him to the passing world. But, as a result, he also looked up with the revelation that God was giving him. So, the thorn was used for good as it made Paul not dependent on the world. But, to transcend the allure and the pride of temporality. Adversity can be our friend, building an eternal weight of character. If you can avoid adversity rightly, do so. But, if you cannot, assume God is permitting it for a higher purpose. That you may not know or ever know. Even in glory.

Soren writes of the Apostle Paul's "Thorn In The Flesh" pouring "All of the agony into the brevity of the moment." This episode explores the existence of pain and joy in the same cup. And the more God uses us for His purposes, the more we may suffer.

Soren in developing his Upbuilding Discourse on Paul's "Thorn in the Flesh" reminds us, his readers, that we "Don't Have Too Many Moments To Waste On Worldly Sorrow." In light of eternity, they are brief and passing. The Apostle Paul is seen by many as a deluded impostor who had a selfish and egotistical scheme to create a new religion based on the teachings of an executed rabbi from Nazareth. A backwater town. Which resulted in the Apostle Paul enduring hardships like his Lord. Sounds like a bad deal unless it is actually true. The thorn in the flesh seems particularly harrowing and painful. And was sent and allowed by God to keep Paul humble in light of the exceedingly great revelation he had received from the risen Jesus. As a companion to the podcast, I'll be posting some thoughts about my Copenhagen trip recently here: https://bierkergaard.blogspot.com/

My buddies and I were blessed to be able to hang around a fire with Sune from Copenhagen, Denmark. Where we were able to practice "Hygge" which is a Danish word for comfort/cozy. It is the intro for the other episode for today. We had an interesting night discussing the US presidential election and related matters as well some of the issues in Denmark. We were eating Brats, drinking my Homebrew Belgian Triple with Lavender, and a couple of us smoking pipes and being professorial. And hanging out with Rue the dog who is one of the kindest canines I know.

First things first... So, I have changed the picture that fronts the podcast. I also have changed the category from "Christianity" to "Philosophy." Both changes seem to fit more of where the podcast is and where I want it to be. Me standing next to one of the two Soren Kierkegaard statues in Copenhagen embodies my goal of staying close to his legacy and his writings. Christ at the center. Philosophy means "Lover of Wisdom" and how Christianity has lost its wisdom to a degree these days in an exchange for a bowl of political lentils/stew like Esau is disheartening. We have sold our birthright to fill our carnal hunger for power and other nefarious appetites (revenge, etc). As an aside, I was struggling in the episode to remember what "Philo" meant in the Greek. It means love. Sophia means wisdom. This episode continues to build on the Upbuilding Discourse on the Apostle Paul's "Thorn in the Flesh." An excruciating and chronic pain that Paul had in his body. In looking at the Greek word translated as "thorn"actually means "stake" and it is an instrument designed for torture. Chronic pain will splinter our worldly dreams of personal peace and prosperity, what Francis Schaeffer called the two idols of American Evangelicals. The Cross tells us that God himself took the stake on our behalf. God can use our worldly brokenness (the withered splendor of fulfillment) to bring a greenwood and eternal hope to us and others. Where do we place our hope?

Yes, my good friends in the podcast universe, I am back from Copenhagen where I walked around 70 miles retracing Soren's steps. And endured the thorn of flying to Europe and back as a 6'8" man in a 5'10" world. The Big Man got a bit broken and then blessed in Copenhagen. Like one of those delicious rolls that come out of Danish ovens. Sometimes we want to put the blessing before the brokenness but I don't think that is how it always works. Sometimes it goes the other way.

I go on a major riff on my trip today to Copenhagen, talking about matters of such things. And, some personal reflection on my pain of over 40 years with my knee and head. Finally, we end with Soren's first paragraph of the Upbuilding Discourse "Thorn In The Flesh" and how the term is torn from its biblical context and used lightly and superficially to refer almost anything that doesn't go our way. Even the trivial. This verse was certainly about a serious matter and we need to see it in that light and what God may be saying to us through Paul's awful physical infirmity. That when he is weak (Paul), Jesus is strong. One who endured the thorns and Cross for us.

Soren assures the Christian that the peace of God is only through God himself. Our trust in his goodness towards us provides patience and calmness.Pray for me as I head to Copenhagen next week to walk where Soren walked. I'll see if I have the time to do an episode next Wednesday before I depart. The week after is likely going to have to wait as I will be flying back to the States.