Isaac of Nineveh

I really like that this article talks about how if we trust God with our entire heart then we do not to think about oursleves when we pray. We would trust that God knows more about what we need than we do, and that his ideas for what we want will be much greater than our own ideas. He loves us more than we would even know, or more than anyone else could love us. A strong, good person knows that he needs to trust God completly, and to become absorbed into himself in order to be completely in touch with God. People who pray for themselves need to trust in God more, and need to be less self absorbed. This reading really contradicted itself the entire time. It was pretty interesting though, and it made some very good points.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

I really like that the article talks about how if you have to climb a ladder to get somewhere then it isnt needed because you are already in the place you need to be. Whatever is reachable by a ladder has no interest. It also talks about how the truth can be told only by people who know the truth, if you deny truth then you cannot speak it. It is really intersting to say that people who do not accept the truth in turn can not speak the truth. I also like that to say you do not need to be anywhere but where you are, and you do not need anything but what you have. People need to be happy with what they have, but the american culture does not do a good job with that. We are always striving for more, and wanting way more than we actually need. The american dream is basically being rich. Im not saying that it would not be nice to never have to worry about money, and to be able to buy whatever you want. I am just saying that people need to be able to be happy with what they have. They need to be able to know that they do not need material posessions in order to live a great life. The happiness does not come from the material objects, but from yourself.

Hugh of St. VIctor

I found this reading incredibly interesting. I really liked it. "The way down is the way up; the way in is the way out" it totally contradicts itself, yet somehow it still makes sense. The whole reading is full of metaphors. "to ascend to God is to enter into oneself, and not only to enter into oneself, but, in some unsayable manner, in the inmost parts to pass beyond oneself" You obviously can not literally pass through yourself, but they are just saying that is not about you. Its about finding God, by letting go of yourself and your wants, and needs. To look deep into yourself is to see whats true. It talks about knowing that the world is outside of us, but that God is inside of us. God is something that you have to find on your own. You can have help, but all in all you have to do it for yourself, and you have to figure it out on your own because God is you. You can not find God unless you look deep down and find what you desire. The world is outside of us because we just live in it. Other people affect us, but only if we let them. The world does not have to affect us.

Symeon The New Theologian

It is interesting that he compares going into the vision of God to diving into the sea. When I picture the sea I imagine turbulent water rushing all around you. I dont imagine anything peaceful of enlightening which is exactly what I imagine for experiencing the vision of God. I guess the point of the reference is to show that the vision of God is all you see when you imerse yourself in it, just like water is all you see when you imerse yourself in the sea. The story was short, and I think that was the entire point it was tryin gto convey. But when talking about how the mind is simple, and how when seeing the light of God all is sees is the light. I think it means that people make things to complicated and just need to enjoy the pure and simple things of life. Thats much harder to do than it would seem. In my experience the human mind over complicates things.