Thus I Go

Personal Legend, What an ultimate concept of a Blungrosoman! We all must journey through this world, facing obstacles that seem impossible to overcome. We limit ourselves by what we understand reality and security to be. Yet it is when we push past the known, past the comfortable, past the constructs of what is acceptable, then we truly see the possibilities. “All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me” what a deep truth that is infinitely hard to grasp, but when we are fully able to grasp this truth it is then that we find our personal legend, and most times it is bigger then we can conceive. I believe that personal legend is a choice. We can choose to attempt to create it in our own weak way, or we can seek through the Heart of the Living and Almighty God what our legend is to be. If we seek we will find a God worth dying for and a legend worth pouring our whole being into. Choosing to follow the Author of our Symphony, taking on the crescendos and solos placed before us is truly a step toward coming of age, of truly seeing the world and self in a more true and real way then we ever have before. God’s ways are higher then our ways, His understanding is perfect and complete, thus I will lean not on my own understanding but I will follow, obey, trust, serve, love, and live life to the fullest beside the very Author of my life.

Happiness

What is true happiness and where can it be found? The shepherd boy begins a journey following omens to find a treasure he is sure exists. Yet what will he really find? Will this treasure truly bring happiness? Was the sacrificing of his sheep a worthy cost for what he might find? Will he discover happiness? Happiness is fleeting, an emotion that comes and goes with circumstances. It is joy that is lasting, joy that envelops ones whole being and never lets go! What about joy? Does the shepherd boy have joy? Where can this joy be found? Let us journey onward with this lad and see if he discovers the contentment he is so set on finding…

Poverty leads to understanding

During her time on Mango street Esperenza indeed journeys to maturity for she is faced with difficulty, like each past character and is transformed by her response to her circumstances. Being in critical years for identity formation Esperenza struggles with all aspects of growth and the pain that comes with it. From realizations of sexuality of her being to the harsh reality of life on Mango Street Esperenza is removed from a sheltered environment and forced to open her eyes to the terrors and beauties of the world. This is the beauty of poverty, for the rich can attempt exclude themselves from the realities of the horrors of the world in which we live, as a result missing the greatest beauties, and thus do not fully form their identity due to lack of understanding. Yet the poor not only see this reality, they experience it. The oppressed not only understand oppression they have to face it day in and day out. Her experience leads her to begin to build her understanding of the world in which she lives.

Esperenza and Pi

Esperenza and Pi have more in common then first meets the eye. First one can see their similarities as one witnesses their struggles with their names. They both long to somehow fit the mold of society. Pi finds ridicule in his name; Esperenza feels that her name is telling of her circumstances. Identity is found for Pi and Esperenza beginning with their name. Both are at a key age in identity formation. Thirteen through sixteen are extremely challenging years as one truly develops into an adult. Identity crises sets in at this age and both Pi and Esperenza experience hardship and difficult circumstances during this critical time. Yet both grow through it all and eventually use their circumstances to guide their growth. I relate to this, for I too faced hardship at this stage in life and see this time of hardship as truly defining in my identity formation.

Cultural expiriance

Culture! What an amazing element of life! In House on Mango Street we again enter the realm of a culture unlike our own. We get to walk in the shoes of a woman living in the inner-city apartments surrounded and enmeshed in the Hispanic American culture. She opens our eyes to the deep struggles of life as she experiences each day on Mango Street. She reveals to us the small moments of life as if showing us a photo album all the while sitting beside us explaining the elements present within each picture. Highlighting important smells, sights, touches, sounds, and tastes. She takes us on a beautiful journey through her life as a Hispanic American woman growing up in America. This cultural journey is valuable to a middleclass American culture to journey, for it is present in every city. The value of experiencing and learning about cultures that differ from your own is priceless.

It is not about our love of God, but about God's unconditional love for us

We see in Pi’s journey a heart of discovery, a significant piece in the puzzle of identity formation. He is searching for truth, yet instead of challenging each faith he embraces them whole-heartedly. Unlike past characters Pi creates an inclusive identity. Yet what does it truly mean to form ones identity? What limits can we put on this act? God has given us free choice, so that we may choose who we become. Yet I believe that God has a perfect purpose for our lives, He alone is able to see the fullness of our potential and though we can live our life choosing to follow good or evil, for me the choice flows much deeper. The choice is in weather I choose to follow my own way of ‘following God’ or if I choose to obey the Author of life, learning God’s best for me, allowing him to steer the boat of my life, and allowing Him to show me the wonders of His glory and love. One of the major differences missed by Pi in the different religions is the love of God for us. In Christianity God loves his creation, loves us to the point of death. Pi chooses how he would see God, but my question to Pi lies in the importance of our small view of God. Does our perception change the truth of God? It is not simply about us choosing to love God, for our love lacks depth we are as dust, but about God choosing to love us, without His love our lives our without hope.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Death and Life

Death, an interesting concept; one humans fear, deny, ignore, face. For an Atheist and Agnostic death must be a depressing idea, for in their view we die and are no more… we cease to exist. It is as if they find an escape in this idea. For Pie death has become a true possibility. He is trapped within its grasp and he is fighting to escape it. Yet for all the lengths the human race takes to stay alive we all will die. Death for a Believer in Jesus Christ is a blessing. We live in a world marinated in and controlled by sin. Physical death brings us into the place our soul longs for, into the very presence of the Author of life. It is spiritual death that has great power, Pie in this statement captures both of these deaths, spiritual and physical. To be spiritually dead, is to be without life, physically one can exist without truly being alive. Pi is faced with being in a place of truth about life and death.

Loneliness

Loneliness is a deep theme in the Life of Pi. For a young boy is faced with life alone in a vast sea where he is left with no control over his situation or the elements at work around him. How does one deal with the depths of loneliness? Pi comes up with a daily routine; he keeps himself occupied with something to do every hour of the day so that life does not seem so meaningless. When we are faced with utter loneliness we feel rejected by the world and left with out purpose. Left without interaction Pi’s survival must surpass lack of physical necessities but also lack emotional and spiritual support. He lives with out anything and his spirit becomes extremely fragile. This loneliness is seen today, it surrounds us. People are faced with this loneliness even while surrounded by people. Pi finds coping mechanisms similar to Paul Berlin and his company in war. He is also faced with the same fear and needs. How is Pi's reaction when he faces his situation different from how Paul and his company deal with the horrors of war? Can Pi be seen as an allegory for the war faced in Going after Cacciato?

Fear

Fear is a powerful emotion that lies in the very nature of a human being. This fear, faced by Paul Berlin and those of his company is a key element as to why I would declare Going after Cacciato as a Blungersoman. For when we face fear we have to decide how we are going to face it and handle this fear. This, weather we choose a positive or negative method, leads to a deepening formation of our identity. I spoke in previous blogs about the importance of experience in coming of age. If one has never had to deal with all of the implications that fear brings into a human heart then one has not truly formed a complete identity. In the novel we watch the characters cope with fear, Caciatto fishes in craters, Paul Berlin attempts the justification for his actions that have resulted from fear, drinking, drugs, coping mechanisms. One grows and matures by being faced with heartache, fear, despair, difficulty. Suffering leads to endurance and perseverance. Yet, I would argue that the only true and healthy response to suffering is to fall into the arms of God. This is where suffering must lead; this is where we see who we were made to be. I believe Randal revealed to us the importance of Christ in his walk through sufferings. Suffering and pain lead to growth of character.