Alright James, I read your description and took it as my journal entry of the day. I wrote this before watching the vid, will update it once I mull over the things you said. Now I see that I don’t really *know* what hope would look like, or even how hope would feel exactly . In my mind it’s this vague belief that things would work out for good in the end or that even if things might seem to turn dark, it’s for a good reason and in the grand scheme of things it’s still ultimately good. My hope is essentially tied to the belief in an all-good all-powerful just and loving God. But that’s so cerebral. Been thinking about what you said a few videos back about how belief can’t just be a statement but something that transforms your heart. When I think of a hopeful person I think of two things: someone who has enthusiasm about life and someone who has the courage to go do the right thing. Hope is an expectation for good things to come. Expectations concerning status and success has worked out very poorly for me, and for others as well. Expectations can be bad cause ultimately the future is beyond your control. So how can you expect good things to come? Good things are subjective for each person. I just imagine this life where I try to live best I can by doing the things I know, being honest, learning from my mistakes, healing, striving, resting, loving. Futility is used to describe efforts that fail to have any lasting impact. In Ecclesiastes, which I read for the first time two months ago, it was great, everything in the world and human life is considered futile because nothing good lasts and nothing ever truly satisfies. I have felt futility over my life when I desired these self-aggrandizing things very strongly. Things like prestige, admiration, accolades, even the envy of others. At the time, I thought I was desiring honorable things but in hindsight, it was to feel important. I succeeded to an extent but that mentality can corrupt even the good things you try to do. Maybe the root of futility is putting your hope in the wrong things- things that don’t last or don’t give fulfillment. So then, what’s left? Success makes me feel like an important person, but it doesn’t last, it’s never enough. Maybe if the “good things” I look forward to are less egotistical and more about becoming more virtuous or the wellbeing of others, hope would not disappear. Maybe if I don’t make it about me and think of others, the fate of the world and think about how God’s providence has existed and will exist for all time, it gives me a feeling of hope. That, because He sees me and all of it and my heart and intentions, it’s not wasted. That helps me give up my ambitions a little more too.
This is excellent. Couple thoughts I had while reading is, regarding things we hope for, you mentioned the futility of pursuing prestige, admiration, accolades, external pursuits. You could say those are ‘results’. Whether good or bad, those are fruits of prior actions. There’s a way that we could live that would get prestige but the reason it’s futile is because it’s a result and out of our control, but also because we shouldn’t aim for fruits. I bring this up because one thing I try to go back to is doing things I like. I really believe everyone had times in their life, specifically when they were a child, where they were playing and the passage of time stopped being real for a moment. That state of play is joy, it’s living in the present moment, it’s meaningful, it’s the fulfillment of purpose. So I don’t know how exactly I’d word it but that’s a place where we can keep hope- in this moment we may be spending time doing things we hate, rather than simply putting our time and attention to what we like. There’s a Greek word that doesn’t have an exact English translation which is ‘Philotimo’ which means the love of ones God given purpose. It’s fascinating because the word itself assumes we have a God given purpose (which we do). Also, to love ones purpose implies deliberately choosing to be immersed in your life’s journey, which is a big part of what I think you’re getting at here which is that we ought not put so much attention into results but instead open our eyes to the journey itself. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, this was a beneficial read for me to start my day. Let’s be great in everything we do today.
@@thedayaheadpodcastWow, this is a great response, thank you for taking the time to write it out. ‘Philotimo’ is a great idea and you had a video about purpose that had been in the back of my mind for some time now. The idea of being immersed in play like a child with complete detachment to the outcome is a state I really strongly want to be in. Remembering what I loved as a child has been helping me clarify what my own purpose could be. I’ve been sketching a lot in the past weeks, am a few pages short of filling my sketchbook which I haven’t done in YEARS. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had in a while. In my early 20s, I was in design trying to be an architect and being so obsessed with the status and accolades (outcomes) aspect of it really spoiled/ corrupted the whole thing for me. So much that I had to take a break. Now, I’m just finding a lot of joy in the act itself, it’s like my mind cleared out or something, so thanks for that. I hope to just keep going more deeply into this. Let’s do great things today 💪🏼 p.s. i also realize my og comment is pretty off mark your actual video but this discussion is still helpful ti me in general. Keep posting bro.
@@ABB14-11 i like to have redemptive conversations. Oddly enough the topic of this video is hope, my greatest hope is that the things I’m speaking about here can spark conversation within, and between, myself and others. Also, our intentions drifting into a selfish and worldly direction is part of human nature. The ambition to get accolades, money and attention are some of the main temptations of the world. For me, it’s a beautiful epiphany when I remember that those things are merely temptations and true joy can be found in the present moment (literally right now) by letting go of the desire for those temptations. It’s tough, but there are few feelings, I think, more freeing than choosing do spend our time what we like. I’m glad to hear you’re spending time sketching. It’s probably important to recognize that intentions will drift back down the wrong direction, because that’s part of life. I constantly ask of myself ‘Why do you write?’ That’s probably the best way to bring intentions back to what is true and good, to ask of yourself ‘Why do I sketch?’ That is how we remember was is truly important.
Amen beautiful brother, I am praying for you every night ❤️🙏🏽 May God continue to bless you and bring you peace. I just purchased your book and have begun reading it.
Thank you, all of your support is important to me. Oh amazing, I tried to self publish it on there for free but the website make you set a minimum price. Let me know your thoughts in reading it please. It's quite a bit different than these podcast videos. I'm curious to hear any and all feedback/thoughts you have.
@@thedayaheadpodcast you are most welcome, Jamie! I always look forward to seeing & hearing from you. I will let you know my thoughts; I’m excited to read it!! 😁❤️
@@thedayaheadpodcast it made my day knowing my messages were received well by you 🎭❤️ I hope you are smiling wherever you may be and find yourself in deep sleep this night 🌖 ⛰️
@@anotherdaughterofchristof course. I enjoy reading your writings. You have a healthy and optimistic perspective. I think I’ve mentioned before but others would benefit from reading what you write.
![GEEK TIMË [OFFICIAL AUDIO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ry-6RvkH880/mqdefault.jpg)
Alright James, I read your description and took it as my journal entry of the day. I wrote this before watching the vid, will update it once I mull over the things you said.
Now I see that I don’t really *know* what hope would look like, or even how hope would feel exactly . In my mind it’s this vague belief that things would work out for good in the end or that even if things might seem to turn dark, it’s for a good reason and in the grand scheme of things it’s still ultimately good. My hope is essentially tied to the belief in an all-good all-powerful just and loving God.
But that’s so cerebral. Been thinking about what you said a few videos back about how belief can’t just be a statement but something that transforms your heart. When I think of a hopeful person I think of two things: someone who has enthusiasm about life and someone who has the courage to go do the right thing.
Hope is an expectation for good things to come.
Expectations concerning status and success has worked out very poorly for me, and for others as well. Expectations can be bad cause ultimately the future is beyond your control. So how can you expect good things to come?
Good things are subjective for each person.
I just imagine this life where I try to live best I can by doing the things I know, being honest, learning from my mistakes, healing, striving, resting, loving.
Futility is used to describe efforts that fail to have any lasting impact.
In Ecclesiastes, which I read for the first time two months ago, it was great, everything in the world and human life is considered futile because nothing good lasts and nothing ever truly satisfies.
I have felt futility over my life when I desired these self-aggrandizing things very strongly. Things like prestige, admiration, accolades, even the envy of others. At the time, I thought I was desiring honorable things but in hindsight, it was to feel important. I succeeded to an extent but that mentality can corrupt even the good things you try to do.
Maybe the root of futility is putting your hope in the wrong things- things that don’t last or don’t give fulfillment. So then, what’s left?
Success makes me feel like an important person, but it doesn’t last, it’s never enough. Maybe if the “good things” I look forward to are less egotistical and more about becoming more virtuous or the wellbeing of others, hope would not disappear. Maybe if I don’t make it about me and think of others, the fate of the world and think about how God’s providence has existed and will exist for all time, it gives me a feeling of hope. That, because He sees me and all of it and my heart and intentions, it’s not wasted. That helps me give up my ambitions a little more too.
This is excellent. Couple thoughts I had while reading is, regarding things we hope for, you mentioned the futility of pursuing prestige, admiration, accolades, external pursuits. You could say those are ‘results’. Whether good or bad, those are fruits of prior actions. There’s a way that we could live that would get prestige but the reason it’s futile is because it’s a result and out of our control, but also because we shouldn’t aim for fruits. I bring this up because one thing I try to go back to is doing things I like. I really believe everyone had times in their life, specifically when they were a child, where they were playing and the passage of time stopped being real for a moment. That state of play is joy, it’s living in the present moment, it’s meaningful, it’s the fulfillment of purpose. So I don’t know how exactly I’d word it but that’s a place where we can keep hope- in this moment we may be spending time doing things we hate, rather than simply putting our time and attention to what we like. There’s a Greek word that doesn’t have an exact English translation which is ‘Philotimo’ which means the love of ones God given purpose. It’s fascinating because the word itself assumes we have a God given purpose (which we do). Also, to love ones purpose implies deliberately choosing to be immersed in your life’s journey, which is a big part of what I think you’re getting at here which is that we ought not put so much attention into results but instead open our eyes to the journey itself. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, this was a beneficial read for me to start my day. Let’s be great in everything we do today.
@@thedayaheadpodcastWow, this is a great response, thank you for taking the time to write it out. ‘Philotimo’ is a great idea and you had a video about purpose that had been in the back of my mind for some time now. The idea of being immersed in play like a child with complete detachment to the outcome is a state I really strongly want to be in. Remembering what I loved as a child has been helping me clarify what my own purpose could be. I’ve been sketching a lot in the past weeks, am a few pages short of filling my sketchbook which I haven’t done in YEARS. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had in a while. In my early 20s, I was in design trying to be an architect and being so obsessed with the status and accolades (outcomes) aspect of it really spoiled/ corrupted the whole thing for me. So much that I had to take a break. Now, I’m just finding a lot of joy in the act itself, it’s like my mind cleared out or something, so thanks for that. I hope to just keep going more deeply into this. Let’s do great things today 💪🏼
p.s. i also realize my og comment is pretty off mark your actual video but this discussion is still helpful ti me in general. Keep posting bro.
@@ABB14-11 i like to have redemptive conversations. Oddly enough the topic of this video is hope, my greatest hope is that the things I’m speaking about here can spark conversation within, and between, myself and others. Also, our intentions drifting into a selfish and worldly direction is part of human nature. The ambition to get accolades, money and attention are some of the main temptations of the world. For me, it’s a beautiful epiphany when I remember that those things are merely temptations and true joy can be found in the present moment (literally right now) by letting go of the desire for those temptations. It’s tough, but there are few feelings, I think, more freeing than choosing do spend our time what we like. I’m glad to hear you’re spending time sketching. It’s probably important to recognize that intentions will drift back down the wrong direction, because that’s part of life. I constantly ask of myself ‘Why do you write?’ That’s probably the best way to bring intentions back to what is true and good, to ask of yourself ‘Why do I sketch?’ That is how we remember was is truly important.
@@thedayaheadpodcastthanks man, will keep that in mind.
Amen beautiful brother, I am praying for you every night ❤️🙏🏽 May God continue to bless you and bring you peace. I just purchased your book and have begun reading it.
Thank you, all of your support is important to me.
Oh amazing, I tried to self publish it on there for free but the website make you set a minimum price. Let me know your thoughts in reading it please. It's quite a bit different than these podcast videos. I'm curious to hear any and all feedback/thoughts you have.
@@thedayaheadpodcast you are most welcome, Jamie! I always look forward to seeing & hearing from you. I will let you know my thoughts; I’m excited to read it!! 😁❤️
@@thedayaheadpodcast it made my day knowing my messages were received well by you 🎭❤️ I hope you are smiling wherever you may be and find yourself in deep sleep this night 🌖 ⛰️
Where can you purchase the book?
@@anotherdaughterofchristof course. I enjoy reading your writings. You have a healthy and optimistic perspective. I think I’ve mentioned before but others would benefit from reading what you write.
Please show us the metal box where you live, so we can trust you more...
30 videos of living in it from last November, and episode 58 was recorded inside of it.