Being a River
takes more than
a Logical Choice
In the last blog, we quoted C.S. Lewis, a portion of the quote being, "We are far too easily pleased". I received the following from my uncle Duane Maxey. It is very thought provoking. I include it here, in the hopes that it will trigger something in you as it did in me.
Mark - Here is a “captivating illustration.
You quoted C. S. Lewis as writing, "We are far too easily pleased." However, there is more involved in being pleased. In the illustration below, Grillus was pleased because his appetite had been changed. When one has an appetite for filth - To him - its "odor is sweeter than amber, and its filth tastes better than the nectar of the gods."
In Greek mythology it is, perhaps, that the story is told of Grillus, a man who had been turned into a hog. Eulysses wanted to change him back into a man, but Grillus would have none of that.
When asked if he took no account of the finer things such as poetry, music, and eloquence, Grillus let it be known that he would rather "oink" than be eloquent. Referring to the filthy pig-sty in which he who had once been a man was now wallowing, Eulysses asked Grillus: "How can you endure this nastiness and stench?"
"It all depends on the taste," oinked Grillus, "The odor is sweeter than amber to me, and the filth than the nectar of the gods!"
Put the delightful foods of a French Chef in front of a Hog, and the slop of his Hog Pen, and he will head straight for the slop!
Being generous, or being whatever Christ would have us be, takes more than a logical choice! Hogs are easily pleased with slop because it appeals to them more than that which pleases a normal human being. Even so, the Natural Man needs a radical change in his nature before he will opt for the things he should!
Uncle Duane
You quoted C. S. Lewis as writing, "We are far too easily pleased." However, there is more involved in being pleased. In the illustration below, Grillus was pleased because his appetite had been changed. When one has an appetite for filth - To him - its "odor is sweeter than amber, and its filth tastes better than the nectar of the gods."
In Greek mythology it is, perhaps, that the story is told of Grillus, a man who had been turned into a hog. Eulysses wanted to change him back into a man, but Grillus would have none of that.
When asked if he took no account of the finer things such as poetry, music, and eloquence, Grillus let it be known that he would rather "oink" than be eloquent. Referring to the filthy pig-sty in which he who had once been a man was now wallowing, Eulysses asked Grillus: "How can you endure this nastiness and stench?"
"It all depends on the taste," oinked Grillus, "The odor is sweeter than amber to me, and the filth than the nectar of the gods!"
Put the delightful foods of a French Chef in front of a Hog, and the slop of his Hog Pen, and he will head straight for the slop!
Being generous, or being whatever Christ would have us be, takes more than a logical choice! Hogs are easily pleased with slop because it appeals to them more than that which pleases a normal human being. Even so, the Natural Man needs a radical change in his nature before he will opt for the things he should!
Uncle Duane
Isn't it true? Will-power, or as Duane suggests "a logical choice' is never enough to make us a River and not a Reservoir. It really does take a radical change of our heart, and that can ONLY be accomplished by Christ himself.
RIVERS NOT RESERVOIRS
7982 Hillcrest Trail
Jonesboro, Georgia 30236
BLOG: www.hisrivers.org
EMAIL: his.rivers@gmail.com
7982 Hillcrest Trail
Jonesboro, Georgia 30236
BLOG: www.hisrivers.org
EMAIL: his.rivers@gmail.com
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