This is very on point for me. I just left a remote work job because sitting at home every day just got to me.
I still feel the pull of acedia, and is probably the hardest sin to overcome. Ennui seems inevitable, as I look out in the world and see a shallow, empty, culturally dead society. The people I meet seem like robots. No labor seems worthwhile.
I now know HOW I should go about doing things but don't know WHAT to do, and this is infinitely frustrating.
This is super interesting, this acedia. I see where you are going. I'm not sure I agree that individualism is popular; where I live, people conform to an established position. I am outlier and remind myself that Napoleon said it takes more courage to suffer than to die. Also, the acedia circumstance can be address with various drugs, to my way of thinking; such solutions can save the day and save the life. And they can restore work ethic and congeniality. Thanks so much, love this esoteric stuff.
I had to look up the exact passage, but in step 13, line 12 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, John Climacus talks about despondency as the greatest challenge for a monk, where the most crowns are won, and one beats it though labor, remembrance of one’s sins, and obedience. I think that it presents an opportunity for those of us in the world, where depression, boredom, and sloth are so widespread, to win a victory in spiritual warfare, and to think of those people around us who suffer with this problem as being fellow soldiers, and lift them up with us.
This is very on point for me. I just left a remote work job because sitting at home every day just got to me.
I still feel the pull of acedia, and is probably the hardest sin to overcome. Ennui seems inevitable, as I look out in the world and see a shallow, empty, culturally dead society. The people I meet seem like robots. No labor seems worthwhile.
I now know HOW I should go about doing things but don't know WHAT to do, and this is infinitely frustrating.
This is super interesting, this acedia. I see where you are going. I'm not sure I agree that individualism is popular; where I live, people conform to an established position. I am outlier and remind myself that Napoleon said it takes more courage to suffer than to die. Also, the acedia circumstance can be address with various drugs, to my way of thinking; such solutions can save the day and save the life. And they can restore work ethic and congeniality. Thanks so much, love this esoteric stuff.
This is a great piece.
I had to look up the exact passage, but in step 13, line 12 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, John Climacus talks about despondency as the greatest challenge for a monk, where the most crowns are won, and one beats it though labor, remembrance of one’s sins, and obedience. I think that it presents an opportunity for those of us in the world, where depression, boredom, and sloth are so widespread, to win a victory in spiritual warfare, and to think of those people around us who suffer with this problem as being fellow soldiers, and lift them up with us.