C. S. Lewis, We have no right to happiness, God in the Dock:

It is part of the nature of a strong erotic passion—as distinct from a transient fit of appetite—that it makes more towering promises than any other emotion. No doubt all our desires make promises, but not so impressively. To be in love involves the almost irresistible conviction that one will go on being in love until one dies, and that possession of the beloved will confer, not merely frequent ecstasies, but settled, fruitful, deep-rooted, lifelong happiness. Hence all seems to be at stake. If we miss this chance we shall have lived in vain. At the very thought of such a doom we sink into fathomless depths of self-pity.Unfortunately these promises are found often to be quite untrue. Every experienced adult knows this to be so as regards all erotic passions (except the one he himself is feeling at the moment). We discount the world-without-end pretensions of our friends’ amours easily enough. We know that such things sometimes last—and sometimes don’t. And when they do last, this is not because they promised at the outset to do so. When two people achieve lasting happiness, this is not solely because they are great lovers but because they are also—I must put it crudely—good people; controlled, loyal, fairminded, mutually adaptable people.

Samuel Johnson, the uncertainty of friendship

Those who would gladly pass their days together may be separated by the different course of their affairs; and friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions. What we have missed long enough to want it, we value more when it is regained; but that which has been lost till it is forgotten, will be found at last with little gladness, and with still less if a substitute has supplied the place. A man deprived of the companion to whom he used to open his bosom, and with whom he shared the hours of leisure and merriment, feels the day at first hanging heavy on him; his difficulties oppress, and his doubts distract him; he sees time come and go without his wonted gratification, and all is sadness within, and solitude about him. But this uneasiness never lasts long; necessity produces expedients, new amusements are discovered, and new conversation is admitted.

I find myself thinking of Florentino Ariza, and how he went on loving Fermina Daza for fifty years, nine months, and four days.

Currently reading: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev 📚

My July Reading List and a reflection on June’s Reading

Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days; offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel!” declares the Lord God. (Amos 4:4-5)

I have stopped reading The Samurai’s Garden A Novel by Gail Tsukiyama 📚. I remember being so excited about reading the book, but it has turned out to be so underwhelming. I only had 20 pages or so to go, but I see no point in going on when all that’s in my mind is wanting to be done with the book and to mark it off my list. Except for Sachi telling her story, I have found most of the book too slow and boring. I also cannot help being displeased at Stephen-san’s and Keiko’s relationship; it feels so unearned, as though it is being forced on us and is very well dispensable. There are of course those moments when you know the issue isn’t with the book, but with you, this is just not one of them. More than finding those who are in agreement with me on this point, I hope to find someone who has read the book and loved it, and to get to hear their defence, and their reasons. Maybe I will pick this up again some other day. I most likely will not.

Hosea is quite a book! 💜 Much to glean from and reflect on!

4th Philokalia discussion tonight on Morrison’s Beloved. A little catching up to do before then! Excited.

Finished reading: The history of Christian thought by Hill, Jonathan 📚

Finished reading: The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien 📚

💜🥳