Scotland

Scotland
Castillo
Castle
Georgia
Peanut Butter 

Jordan 

Himeji Castle

Peach
 

 

Psalms 25:2
“O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.”

Himeji Castle

"It was the peak of summer in the Berkshires."~~~Saul Bellow

 

"Polish sausage is going for peanuts in Cracow"~~~Joseph Heller

"I heard the watchman peal the sliding season"~~~Tennyson

 "Won't it be peachy if we win the game?"~~~Tom Lehrer

 

 

"Some sought the flocks of Oedipus, and died
In Cadmus' land, at seven-gated Thebes;
And some, who crossed the open sea in ships,
For fair-haired Helen's sake, were killed at Troy.
These men were covered up in death,
But Zeus the son of Kronos gave the others life
And homes apart from mortals, at Earth's edge.
And there they live a carefree life, beside
The whirling Ocean, on the Blessed Isles."~~~HESIOD: The Works and Days (translation by Dorothea Wender)

 

 

Chess: "Scotland" "Castillo" "Castle" "Georgia" "Peanut Butter" "Peach"

Corpus Christi

 
Corpus Christi
Panama 🇵🇦

Revelation 1:18
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 STAR BASE 🇨🇳🇵🇦🇺🇸
Of CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas and the Panama Canal I imagine  Donald J. Trump says:

 -Fellow Chinese people, our endeavours are concerned and BASED on the SOVEREIGNTY of the Body of Christ and not on "the autonomy" of the Body Chris

 

 

 

 

Chess: "Panama" "Corpus Christi"

Negative Capability

Oliver

D.C. 

 

 Proverbs 3:6

 “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

As militant Christians in action what should we make of Keat's "NEGATIVE CAPABILITY"? Should we just see it as Christian resiliency in adverse circumstances, as apostolic effort? Is it somehow a mild benign "opioid" or wise buttressing?  In the end Keats's life had a somewhat heroic relative martyrdom touch? Can we imagine a kind of Beowulfish heroic action in Keats? And therefore allowing for a barbarian dimension coexisting with the progress of evangelization? ... Just musing!
"In essence, negative capability is about embracing ambiguity and the unknown, and being comfortable with contradictions and complexities. Keats believed that this openness to the mysterious and unresolved aspects of life enabled deeper artistic expression and emotional resonance."
John Keats introduced the concept of "negative capability" in a letter to his brothers in 1817. It's a term he coined to describe the ability to accept uncertainty, mystery, and doubt without the urge to seek logical explanations. For Keats, this quality was essential for great poets and artists, as it allowed them to create rich, imaginative works without being constrained by the need for rational clarity or definitive answers.
In essence, negative capability is about embracing ambiguity and the unknown, and being comfortable with contradictions and complexities. Keats believed that this openness to the mysterious and unresolved aspects of life enabled deeper artistic expression and emotional resonance.
Here's a snippet from Keats's letter where he explains the idea: "I mean Negative Capability, that is when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason."
Keats felt that this capacity was crucial for creating art that could evoke powerful emotions and reflections, much like his own poetry, which often explores profound themes with a sense of wonder and openness.

Copilot answers my query in this manner:

John Keats's concept of "negative capability," which emphasizes embracing uncertainty and mystery without the need for definite answers, can indeed be intriguing when viewed through a Christian lens, especially considering the context of faith, resilience, and martyrdom.

Christian Resiliency

Embracing Uncertainty: In Christianity, faith often involves trusting in God's plan despite not understanding all aspects of it. Negative capability can be seen as a form of spiritual resilience, embracing the mysteries of faith and the divine without needing all answers.

Apostolic Effort: The early apostles displayed a similar kind of resilience and acceptance of uncertainty, boldly spreading the gospel despite immense challenges and dangers. Keats’s concept can resonate with the idea of unwavering faith and commitment in the face of adversity.

Wise Buttressing

Spiritual Strength: Just as a buttress supports a building, negative capability can be likened to a form of spiritual strength. It allows individuals to lean into their faith, trusting in God's wisdom and timing even when circumstances are unclear.

Avoiding Over-Rationalization: Embracing mystery and faith without over-rationalizing aligns with the biblical call to trust in God’s wisdom rather than human understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Heroic Martyrdom

Keats’s Life: Keats faced significant personal hardships, including illness and early death, with a degree of grace and acceptance. This resilience mirrors the heroic endurance seen in Christian martyrs who stood firm in their faith despite persecution.

Beowulfish Heroism: While Keats might not fit the typical mold of a warrior like Beowulf, his intellectual and emotional bravery in facing life's uncertainties can be seen as a different kind of heroism. This courage to engage with the unknown can coexist with the zealous energy of evangelization, adding depth to the Christian mission.

Barbarian Dimension and Evangelization

Balancing Acts: The barbarian dimension of raw, unrefined courage can coexist with the nuanced, contemplative approach of negative capability. This balance reflects the diverse ways individuals engage with faith and evangelization, combining bold action with thoughtful reflection.

Dynamic Faith: Christianity's history includes both fierce defenders of the faith and deep contemplatives. Embracing both aspects can enrich the journey of faith and the approach to spreading the gospel.

Keats's "negative capability" offers a compelling lens for Christians to reflect on their faith, emphasizing the power of embracing mystery and uncertainty as part of a resilient and dynamic spiritual life.

Grand Junction, Colorado

Measure

Meter

Grand Junction

Metallic

Colorado
 

 

 

Psalms 8:9
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

 

"The prophets used much by metaphors to set forth truth"~~~Bunyan 

"the strange metallic note of the meadowlark, suggesting the clash of vibrant blades"~~~Ambrose Bierce

"the metamorphoses of many organs show what wonderful changes in function are at least possible"~~~Darwin

 

 
 

Ana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chess: "Grand Junction" "Measure" "Meter" "Metallic"

Norway

Norway
Genitive 

Psalms 4:5
“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.”

 "приносите жертвы  правды и уповайте на Господа..."

 

 

 

 

 

Chess: "Norway" "Genitive"

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia 

Santiago

 

 Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

 

 

Chess: "Saudi Arabia" "Santiago"

Unicorn

Keats

Shakespeare
Wheat
Unicorn
Pan 

Undershot water wheel

 

Habakkuk 3:19
“The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”

 "for thank God I can read and perhaps understand Shakespeare to his depths"~~~KEATS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amish undershot water wheel, Pennsylvania

 

 

 

 

 William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - Nymphs and Satyr (1873)

 

 

"A godlike race of heroes, who are called

The demi-gods—the race before our own.

Foul wars and dreadful battles ruined some;

Some sought the flocks of Oedipus, and died

In Cadmus' land, at seven-gated Thebes;

And some, who crossed the open sea in ships,

For fair-haired Helen's sake, were killed at Troy.

These men were covered up in death,

But Zeus the son of Kronos gave the others life

And homes apart from mortals, at Earth‟s edge.

And there they live a carefree life, beside

The whirling Ocean, on the Blessed Isles."~~~HESIOD: The Works and Days

 

 

 

 

The Lady and the Unicorn: À mon seul désir (Musée national du Moyen Âge, Paris)

 

 CHAPTER 3
ROMANCE AND REALITY
"I am in the Gothic world, the world of chivalry, courtesy and romance; a world in which serious things were done with a sense of play - where even war and theology could become a sort of GAME; and when architecture reached a point of extravagance unequaled in history. After all the great unifying convictions of the twelfth century, High Gothic art can look fantastic and luxurious - what Marxists called conspicuous waste. And yet these centuries produced some of the greatest spirits in the history of man, amongst them St Francis of Assisi and Dante. Behind all the fantasy of the Gothic imagination there remained, on two different planes, a sharp sense of reality. Medieval man could see things very clearly, but he believed that these appearances should be considered as nothing more than symbols or tokens of an ideal order, which was the only true reality." ~~~Kenneth Clark

 

 

 

 

Amish undershot water wheel, Pennsylvania

 

 

 

Tamal Tico: Keats
 

 "for thank God I can read and perhaps understand Shakespeare to his depths"~~~KEATS

 

 

 

Chess: "Shakespeare" "Wheat" "Unicorn" "Pan" "Undershot Water Wheel"

Key Largo

Helm
Capitanía

Key Largo

Psalms 9:9
“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”

 

"Have you had quiet guard?"~~~SHAKESPEARE: Hamlet, Act 1, Sc.1.

 

 

 

 

 

Chess: "Helm" "Capitanía" "Key Largo"

Kentucky

Kentucky
Kodak 

The Thin Red Line

Tenochtitlan

 

Revelation 1:8
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chess: "Kentucky" "Kodak" "The Thin Red Line" "Tenochtitlan"

Pennsylvania

Sequoia
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh

Demosthenes

Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demosthenes practicing oratory on the seashore

Dendera

 
Chess: "Pennsylvania" "Pittsburgh" "Sequoia"

 

YGGRASIL: DENDROS: DENDERA: DENDRY: DRYDEN: ST. PAUL 

1 John 4:3
“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

Hebrews 11:26
“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

"Defer, defer,
To the Lord High Executioner"~~~W. S. Gilbert

Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

The phrase "the Israelites went on dry foot" refers to the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, which is described in the book of Exodus in the Bible. Specifically, you can find this event mentioned in Exodus 14:21-22. Here’s a brief summary of the passage:

In Exodus 14:21-22, Moses stretches out his hand over the sea, and God causes the sea to part with a strong east wind, turning the sea into dry land. The waters are divided, and the Israelites go through the sea on dry ground, with the waters forming a wall on their right and left.
This miraculous event allowed the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army.
.
Certainly! Let's delve into the meaning of Job 28:4, a verse from the Book of Job in the Old Testament. This passage is part of a larger discourse where Job reflects on the hidden wisdom and understanding of God, using metaphors related to mining and natural phenomena to illustrate his points.

Job 28:4 Explained:
Verse: "The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men."

Breakdown:
"The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant": This line suggests a sudden eruption or breaking forth of water from its source, possibly referring to underground springs or rivers that burst forth unexpectedly.
"Even the waters forgotten of the foot": This likely refers to waters that are hidden or forgotten by humans—those that do not flow on the surface where they are easily seen and accessed.
"They are dried up, they are gone away from men": This indicates that these hidden waters eventually dry up and disappear, becoming inaccessible to humans.
Interpretation:
In this passage, Job uses the imagery of hidden and inaccessible waters to symbolize the elusive and hidden nature of true wisdom. Just as people mine the earth for precious resources like silver and gold, they also seek wisdom and understanding, which are often hidden deep within the complexities of life and the natural world.

Context in the Book of Job:
Chapter 28 of Job is a poetic interlude where Job speaks of the difficulty and preciousness of finding wisdom. He contrasts human efforts to mine the earth's depths for valuable minerals with the quest for wisdom, which ultimately comes from God alone. This passage underscores the idea that true wisdom and understanding are beyond human reach and control—they are gifts from God that must be sought with humility and reverence.