Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

“The soul that has the courage to give up everything else…and when the soul does not believingly aspire to the eternal, does not hopefully hurry toward the future, is not lovingly in understanding with God and human beings, it is lost. On the contrary, if it announces itself in this powerful presence, then the single individual has indeed saved his soul.” (p. 193, 18 Upbuilding Discourses).

When we have the soul patience and trust that God is working in us and through us for our and others’ good and His glory, then we can lay aside impatience and be at peace with our past, calm in the present, and tranquil about the future. We trust he is making our souls better. And not bitter. Ephesians 4:31-32. That is a solid thought for 2024! * A reminder that Bierkergaard is on Instagram and X. Join me!

By pleasure, Soren means the pursuit of things of this world without eternity in mind and lacking the patience in our souls. Make space for the eternal. Therefore, we won’t “Slave in worry’s deliberation.” Trust God. Take time, for we have eternity.

In losing our soul, it is us that does it. No one else has that power and authority. We trade our souls to gain the world. And in death, have lost both our souls and the world. * I use the word “We” as admission that no one is safe from making this transaction with eternal consequences. ** I am also working on being more patient behind the wheel and just enjoying the drive despite the chaos. Happy Holidays!

We gain our soul by surrender. We preserve our soul likewise by surrender. To God. Refusing to allow the world to cross the walls of our soul and fill it inordinately with the cares and frustrations of this life.

The world says if you want something, go after it. Be strong and take it. In matters of the soul, we gain by losing. A letting go versus a taking up. Surrender to God is victory. Lose oneself to gain oneself.

Soren considers trading the soul for the world; eternality for temporality. Some reflection at the beginning on parenting and then a brief discussion on post-Temple Rabbinic Judaism. Then, Soren.

“The world can be possessed by only possessing me…may it not be the world’s stratagem to lead a person to think that if he possesses the world that he is not possessed by it.” We end with a prayer of St. Augustine.

Soren calls Patience a “Poor Bird.” As compared to a bird that comes “parading and posturing.” Instead, “It comes like a soft breeze and the incorruptible essence of a quiet spirit. Patience is a poor art and yet it is very long.” Cultivating patience of soul is a lifelong endeavor, as we look to eternity versus this passing world’s adversities and prosperities. As a note, I’ll add another survey for you to assess the new microphone and audio quality of this episode. Correction: The Euphrates is in Iraq. I know that. I said Iran.

To gain one’s soul in patience. Soren writes, “Patience is a poor bird.” “It does not come parading and posturing but comes like a soft breeze and the incorruptible essence of a quiet spirit.” Also reviewed in this episode are the first 8 Upbuilding Discourses. P.S. My apology on the excessive background noise in the recording today. I was moving a lot more material around and the like. I will be more mindful of such in the future.