An Invitation to the Practice of Gentle Cynicism
This gentle cynic invites you to take a tour of his episodic public journal (blog)--if you wish--where he share his practice of gentle cynicism. This practice does not follow the modern concept of cynicism, but a philosophical way of living with ancient biblical, classical and medieval roots. It takes the form of a dynamic filter between one’s full self (to include one's community) and the world, like shifting chaff from wheat. Moreover, it is a search for what is best (or simply good) rather than what is simply accepted, and what it means to actually participate with or work toward God’s Shalom while differentiating what misses the mark (illusions). By "Shalom", he seeks a vision of God's promised and emerging wholeness, peace, grace, wellness, wisdom.
Gentile Cynicism is thus a way of training the whole self (soul, mind, body) to actively discover and experience more fully the vibrant, flowing, and invigorating reality of God's creative energy and purposes, and less the draining emptiness and forthcoming bitterness of a fragmented world. It is a way of moving through (not stepping away from) tensions where there is a complex array of easy-to-get-to thin practices, answers and ideals on one side; while on the other, profound, thick sources of questions and insights that invite persistent souls toward the way of becoming more fully human.
Since I have made known to some the news of my early discharge from the military as a conscientious objector (CO), there has been interest among some for me to tell my story. There is truly much to say about the reality of God's Shalom project through Jesus Christ and the social ethic of Christ's church, yet it would seem that many are more interested in hearing about my process or the story as it unfolded in and around the military. Even though in the long haul my story will bear evidence of some personal difficulty, I had not feared for my life nor did I endure any harassment from others like many in the past who have paved the way for CO’s today. So I need to say how grateful I am for the “Historic Peace Churches”, the coalition of Mennonites, Friends or Quakers, and Brethren who advocated for the rights of conscientious objectors in the pre-World War II years. Their shared conviction has been that Jesus’ life and teaching makes the rejection of violence normative (the way things ought to be) for all Christians. Second
, it feels a bit unfair to me that my story finds intrigue by some when there are those who have lived faithfully having been shaped since their youth as genuine peacemakers—those who I am intrigued by. I am just beginning this journey of being shaped in this way. Do not get me wrong, I am grateful and find it helpful to tell my story, for it is assisting me in constructing a public response for the reality of God's peace while making me more aware what is around me, what has influenced me, and what continues to challenge me to go further. The “end” (being discharged) is but a beginning for me, which I find a bit scary when I think what it might mean for me to live out the virtue of peaceableness in the months and years ahead
God’s will be done on earth as it is heaven!Photo link:
http://www.plowsharesproject.org/Stories:
http://www.emu.edu/seminary/features/seifert
, it feels a bit unfair to me that my story finds intrigue by some when there are those who have lived faithfully having been shaped since their youth as genuine peacemakers—those who I am intrigued by. I am just beginning this journey of being shaped in this way. Do not get me wrong, I am grateful and find it helpful to tell my story, for it is assisting me in constructing a public response for the reality of God's peace while making me more aware what is around me, what has influenced me, and what continues to challenge me to go further. The “end” (being discharged) is but a beginning for me, which I find a bit scary when I think what it might mean for me to live out the virtue of peaceableness in the months and years ahead
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