Dreaming of Silver Roses

(Morissette 1)

     There are many days I feel defeated at the hands of my lack; my “drive for more- ness,” to make up a phrase,  from myself. I remember once reading Herbert’s The Pulley.

The Pulley.

 

 

When God at first made man,
Having a glasse of blessings standing by;
Let us (said he) poure on him all we can:
Let the world’s riches, which dispersed lie,
    Contract into a span.

    So strength first made a way;
Then beautie flow’d, then wisdome, honour, pleasure;
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure,
    Rest in the bottome lay.

    For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewell also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts in stead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
    So both should losers be.

    Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlesnesse;
Let him be rich and wearie, that at least,
If goodnesse leade him not, yet wearinesse
    May tosse him to my breast. (Herbert 1)

I read it in British Literature class in college. I was so excited to think that maybe this 17th Century Metaphysical poet had the answer. Maybe the drive, the hunger, the need to do, know, and be more was my lack of rest.

     Carolyn Arends wrote a song called “Reaching” on her album Seize the Day. (Arends 1)

I think Arends is saying the ache the more maybe similar though a bit more forward than Herbert’s answer of “rest”. 

    Sara Groves also expresses a similar wanting or aching.

(Groves 1)

It’s threaded all over in literature and art. From Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamzov  to children’s literature like Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables  series. It’s found in Tolkien’s  The Lord of the Rings trillogy, Lewis’ Narnian chronicles, L’Engle’s Wrinkle in Time Quartet, and more. Styx writes about it in Show Me the Way. Joan Ozborne’s writes it out in  One of Us. I hear echoes of this from my heart as I read or watch every heroic epic from the Odyssey to the today’s Scifi shows like the Stargates to Star Treks. Each example shows signs of man wanting to be more and discover more.

    I’m not promoting an answer specifically here. I’m just saying if you’re looking… you are not alone. Don’t be discouraged. Ask the big questions.

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“Alanis Morissette – Incomplete.” YouTube. Web. 13 Mar 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMshi2aS3-o.

Herbert, George. The Temple. Bibliolife, 2009. Print.

“Reaching_ Carolyn Arends.” YouTube. Web. 13 Mar 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDfYCiYdgeg.

“Sara Groves – Maybe There’s A Loving God.” YouTube. Web. 13 Mar 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUVn-0nYxXQ.

Filed under: Uncategorized on March 13th, 2010