The Blind Man

"Cathedral," by Raymond Carver opens with the narrator telling the reader in a conversational tone that a blind friend of his wife's is coming to visit them. The narrator is clearly unhappy about the upcoming visit. He then flashes back to the story of how his wife met the blind man when she worked for him as a reader. It was during this same time that she was getting ready to marry an officer in the Air Force. When a new chapter in her life is ready to unfold, she tells the blind man goodbye and he asks if he can touch her face. When Robert touched her face, it became is a very important moment in her life. The narrator has a hard time understanding this. Although his wife has kept in touch with the blind man for the past ten years before the story takes place sending each other tapes because Robert wouldn’t be able to read a traditional letter. This will be the first time she has seen Robert since her first marriage and remarriage. Robert himself has just lost his wife and thought that traveling to Connecticut to visit with her family will help deal with his hardship.

There is a sense of loneliness among both the narrator and Robert in this story. The husband is clearly jealous of his wife’s reunion with an old friend from her past, and being a man doesn’t help the situation either. "I wasn't enthusiastic about his visit.... A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to." Robert’s wife had just died so he is feeling alone too and tries to find comfort by visiting the wife. The story comes to an end when the two men, the narrator and Robert, sit down to start a drawing of a cathedral. The narrator is interested in what Robert actually “sees” while he is blind. Robert’s intension was to put the husband in his own shoes. He had the husband close his eyes as they began to draw. It was at that time that the husband, in a way, felt peace. “It’s really something,” He said.

Make It Right: Special Entry

Joel, of the Old Testament in the Bible was written by the prophet Joel, himself. The name Joel means, “The Lord is God.” Joel urges the people of Judah to turn back to God. With Joash’s corrupted father and grandmother out of the way, Joel took the opportunity for renewal in the land. However, he also warned the people of Judah that there would be judgment, in the form of agricultural disaster as well as severe consequence, if they did not repent. Using the plagues of locusts as an example, Joel sends an image to the people on the coming wrath of God. If there is an interest to personally experience God’s power and work, readers will find that Joel’s prophecies are right on target. His predictions, though can scare a reader at times, will also create inspiration. Joel prophecies the coming of the Holy Spirit, linking God’s work to the Old Testament with the New Testament Church. Reading Joel will display God’s intense for an intimate relationship with all those who love Him and follow His ways. Watch for God’s double-barreled plan for His people. There is a specific plan of punishment for sin, but also a promise to eagerly defend His people. In both of these situations, look for God’s passionate concern for his people.

In the first chapter, verse 4, Joel goes into detail that locusts mean business. They will destroy anything and everything that is in sight. God has a strong desire to bless His people, He wants to, but cannot allow for people to turn from Him and not receive judgment. A clear consequence that the people of Judah can see as an act of God because of their disobedience is, in fact, locusts. While making a loud, terrifying noise with its wings, it brings extreme economic ruin to a people.

In the same chapter, verse five, God speaks through Joel to those living a life of sin in particular. He says “Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!” There were people that had become so comfortable and used to a sinful life, or “drunk,” that it had become a tradition or routine for them. Not only then, but this still occurs today. People become so comfortable with a life they think are “pure” or “honest” in the eyes of God, but in reality, have it all wrong. We take for granted what God has blessed us with and do not, in return, give Him the praise that He is suppose to be given. Joel goes to tell all of Judah to show God their seriousness by declaring a national day of fasting and prayer. In chapter one, verse fifteen, there is talk about “…the day of the Lord…” What is the day of the Lord? I believe that it refers to anytime God decides to deal with a nation or generation is a way He sees fitting so that it will return to its spiritual senses. The final day of the Lord, however, will obviously be when He returns for the second time.

At the start of chapter two, verse one, the locusts come. When readers get to verse twelve, God gives the people of Judah the opportunity to render their hearts to Him and follow in His ways. I feel that people living in sin, or basically in any way in which is not pleasing to the Lord, must repent. God has the ability to perform spiritual surgery. I mean, if repentance does not follow after one sins, judgment will. When there is repentance sought after sin God’s wrath is fully restrained. Repentance restores a relationship with Christ.

Verse eighteen reads, “Then the Lord will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people.” Why the sudden shift from punishment to blessing? God graciously shifts from declaring punishment to displaying divine pity for His people. In verse twenty-five, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” The plagues of locusts destroyed years worth of crops. Joel used this as a symbol of the devastation the people brought upon themselves through unfaithfulness and sin. If the nation choose to repent, God promised to make the lands fruitful again in an abundance that would more than make up for what the locusts destroyed. Now, I think that this is a fair trade, would readers agree?

Living a life of sin prevents us from receiving and being able to use all that God has planned for our lives. A specific plan, separate from others, that God has for no one else, is being disrupted all because of disobedience. At the end of chapter two, God reveals to those people and even to us in present day that if we follow in all of His ways then Christ pour out His spirit. He desires for us to have special gifts and to use those gifts for Him.

When we read Joel in class, had activities related to Joel, and then reading the book aloud, I looked at my own life and began to reflect on the message God is displaying. I thought about my daily sins and how I disobey Christ everyday and asked forgiveness on the spot. At that time I just began to think, I realized that sin is the easy way out. It’s hard to think about all the blessings He has placed in my life, and then how I repay Him. It does not add up. We, myself included, have to completely surrender our lives to God. Christ is coming for a second time and we need to be ready. Start now and learn from Joel that punishment and judgment will come. Do you know where you will spend eternity?

tuesday film

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along was definitely an interesting film. At first I thought there was no way I could take this movie seriously. It was stupid. The humor was dumb and they acting was silly. That is, before I made the attempt to take it seriously and try to take out a realistic issue. For the next 40 minutes or so I sat and watched as the story and message of the movie began to unfold.

I started to see certain things revealed and issues that have been discussed in class. Love and hate, as well as life and death seemed to be the themes of the movie. Dr. Horrible was in love with a girl from the laundry room and Captain Hammer ended up winning that battle. It was made clear throughout the entire movie that “good” prevailed over “evil.” When Dr. Horrible made an attempt to do an evil deed Captain Hammer was there to stop him. The girl was impressed with this and fell for Captain Hammer’s “good heart.” But were his feelings real? Dr. Horrible truly cared about this girl and held her and his arms when she took her last breath. Is that a display of evil? When Captain Hammer ran away?

All in all, this really makes you think about how people really are and/or can be. Some people have a “soft” side and other people are, in a way, “fake.” Judging a book (or a person) by their cover upon first glace doesn’t show who that person really is. However, there is always more to someone than meets the eye. Hatred is a strong word and a feeling. Did Dr. Horrible really have a genuine hatred for Captain Hammer? Question you’re feelings for others and ask yourself if you really hate that person.

Lake Bonny Park

My recent adventure to Lake Bonny Park is something I will never forget. As I started on the path that leads around the park, I began to seek out God and thank Him for what He was made for us to enjoy. Do we really enjoy it? I mean, everything that God has created. I know that being grateful for what God has made in His image has been a “theme” in recent classes, but for me, the time spent in Lake Bonny Park was what I really needed to clearly understand.

I began to really notice, everything, and just thank God for the beauty of nature. As I saw all of His creation, the birds, water, trees, everything, I noticed everything had a purpose, even in nature. I prayed aloud, just seeking out God and trying to have an encounter that would open my eyes, in some way, just to live a better life for Him. I continued on the path and I felt God speaking to me. I had a feeling that I have not before.

He revealed to me a message about peace. Looking at the nature that He created and how peaceful it was ended up meaning something to me. I tend to be “tense” or “uptight” about certain issues or situations in which I feel uncomfortable and/or cannot predict an outcome. He revealed to me that worrying about problems do not make them any better, but to remain calm and push forward. Finding peace and not having this chaotic mindset definitely hit me hard. I smiled. At that very moment, I just felt happy. I felt that God is almost putting before me a trial or challenge. Could it be something that has an effect on my future? That’s just it. Why worry about it? It won’t reveal itself until the time is right. I feel that God wants me to enjoy my life and my surroundings day by day and not try to predict the future. So much was lifted off my chest when I realized what He was trying to have me understand.

On my way back to my car I was given two scriptures that popped right into my head. It was amazing!

Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Mathew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

GOD IS GOOD! That’s all I have to say about that. Trust in Him, live for Him, have faith in Him, and He will give you peace!

In our last class we read, discussed, and analyzed "State of the Planet," written by Robert Hass. Again, I was impressed with another way nature was revealed to me. I learned how to appreciate it more and at the same time had an influence on me. This connected to the video clips we watched in class too. Watching nature, observing the creativity and originality of what God created in His image is truly remarkable.

Not only as Christians, but as a people, we need to realize how blessed we are to even have natural resources. I mean, did God have to do that, for us? We take for granted what God has made for our enjoyment.

On the other hand, there is another way to look at this. Some people are over protective of nature, babying it more than their own child(figuratively speaking). At the same time shouldn't that be the way in which we need to treat one another? I mean, there are so many people that need someone, that need actual love like nature is given.

All in all, the overall message i took from "State of the Planet" and the videos was to not think of myself but also my surroundings, people and nature. To appreciate everything more whether I know about a specific part of nature or know a particular person or not. To, in a way, "love" without judging, knowing, assuming, and not let pride take over. To sum it up, "world peace" i guess.

The Garden

En robe de parade.
Samain

Like a skien of loose silk blown against a wall
She walks by the railing of a path in Kensington Gardens,
And she is dying piece-meal
of a sort of emotional anaemia.

And round about there is a rabble
Of the filthy, sturdy, unkillable infants of the very poor.
They shall inherit the earth.

In her is the end of breeding.
Her boredom is exquisite and excessive.
She would like some one to speak to her,
And is almost afraid that I
will commit that indiscretion.


For the first time this semester I analyzed our reading before being asked to, on my own, to see what I could pull out of The Garden before given any direction. I’d say it was a success. Although at first I was having trouble fully understanding the poem but using imagination and making the attempt to “dig deeper” I got something. The first line that caught my attention as “And she is dying…” This seems to be the overall message of the poem, that “she” is dying and a description of the time, feelings, and surroundings is, in a way, given. “She would like someone to speak to her,” following the previous line tells me that she is alone.


I feel that she really does want someone to speak to her. What if she was of the clergy, being isolated from the rest of society in order to keep her high expectation of a noble woman. In many similar stories most of us have heard throughout our lives, the young girl that is born of nobility seems to grow up alone, meeting depression and a lack a social life at a young age.


Where did I get the noble part from? “She walks by the railing of a path…” could that be a private garden?


“In her is the end of breeding,” only shows that all hope may be gone soon. She is alone and needs someone there for her.


Professor Corrigan had a very insightful reflection on this poem as well, applying similarities to events and situations that have happened in his own life. This is something that I did not think of doing. Actually comparing what we read to our own lives to try to make a “better” or “different” kind of connection. I really enjoyed reading Corrigan’s essay because I was introduced to yet another way of looking at, analyzing, and reading literature

Enemy of the People

I actually enjoyed this play, it was very interesting and grabbed my attention from the start. I was impressed with the acting and the stage setup.

I would like to start out talking about my least favorite character in the play, Peter Stockman. I know, surprise surprise, he is probably everyone's least favorite character, but he annoyed me. I'm aware that this play takes place in a different time period but think about it. If that SAME EXACT character lived among people in today’s society how long would he last? He aggravated me, he really did. Peter Stockman was extremely selfish and his main focus seemed to make people continue their visits. He was the one to turn the whole town against Dr. Stockman. The truth is that the springs had a bacteria in them but Peter would not let this get out to the public.

In reality, this could’ve possibly helped the town. If more people were seeing that they were going to fix the problem and actually did, I believe people would still visit the town.

Dr. Stockman was awesome. He never took anything less than what he thought was right no matter how many people were against him. He is, in fact, the character of the play that I definitely relate to. I stand behind what I think is right until it’s proven otherwise no matter what, however, I have not yet had an entire town come against me. In that case, even more respect to Dr. Stockman. He did not “give in” to what the rest of the town had to say because he had proof in the palm of his hand and no one’s word was going to change that.

What really caught my eye is that Dr. Stockman taught his children to stand firm in what they believe and never let other people influence you when you have the facts. That is what real men do.