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There have been a couple comments lately that were directed at me and addressed issues discussed in the last post. I don't know if this is just one person or two, but right now that doesn't matter. They were posted anonymously, and so this is to whomever is writing:

I'm sorry if there's anything I've done that has offended you in any way. I'm doing my best to let my actions mirror my words, and sometimes that doesn't always happen. The things you wrote were pretty bold things to say, and I'd like to give you my perspective on such issues and offer some explanation for any questions you might have as well.

I know that you're someone who knows me, because of your references to the past and what your perception of me back then was like. It's unfortunate that you made your comment(s) anonymous, because I would really like to have a conversation about the things you said, but I don't know who you are. If you would like to email me, my email is cwarner19@gmail.com, or if you know me well enough to have my number, give me a call and we'll sit down and talk about it. You obviously care enough about me to call me out on something you perceived in my writing, so talk to me; don't just let your words become empty without a name behind them.

So, in a nutshell, you said a lot, I'd like to talk, don't know your name, would like to so we can have a decent conversation. Please get back to me if you can.

-Caleb-

What I Learned, and What I Learned For

Shalom, friends.

So, it's been another 40 days, and tomorrow I'll start wearing regular clothes again, rather than a white t-shirt and jeans. The main thing that's been on my mind this week about this deal is whether or not it was worth it, whether I actually learned something. Honestly, I was scared for a while that I hadn't learned anything, that it didn't count because it was too easy. All I did was cut my hair and put on the same clothes everyday. It really got to the point where I wasn't even thinking about it anymore. Naturally, I began to assume that if this was my dominant mindset, then I had gained nothing from the experience except an easier way to dress.

Right now, I feel pretty good about the whole thing. I suppose that, just like the fasting over Lent, I have isolated the problem of idolizing something trivial in my life, and tried my best to wean myself of such thought processes. During all this time, I have summarized my thoughts into two points. 1) I realize that I think way too much about what people will think of me based on what I put on or what my hair looks like in the morning. I have also fallen into a pattern of deriving my identity through the style of my hair and dress, and I don't think I should do that anymore. And 2) I have seen that almost all of my shirts and pants were made in countries where sweatshop labor still thrives and workers are still exploited. I don't think I want to wear symbols of those things anymore either.

So, I'll be making my own clothes over the summer and giving most of my clothes I have now away to people who actually need them. Other than that, it's been another wonderful learning experience and another step down my path towards arête. I don't really know what the next step will be, but you'll know eventually. Thanks for reading.

-Caleb-

Arête

Shalom, friends.

So, I've gotten some comments from people at school and at home, asking me, "What is this word arête that you keep throwing around and saying 'Seek arête, seek arête'?" Now you get to find out.

Arête was defined as virtue or excellence by the Greeks, specifically Aristotle, in whom the word found a high usage. Wikipedia defines it as the fulfillment of purpose or function; the act of living up to one's full potential. I came to define it as the highest form of living that humans can aspire to. Gerard Manley Hopkins has another word for basically the same thing--inscape. He derived the concept to mean the distinctive design that constitutes individual identity. He also thought that every object has an inscape, and we can perceive this through instress, but only through divine intervention or assistance. This seems to me to be relatively the same idea as arête.

I was originally introduced to this phrase in my English 215 class, when we read through The Odyssey. Another phrase that seems to correlate to this same thought process, and is in Latin this time (and is also from a Lit class, one I'm taking right now), is "Paulo maiora canamus," which translates roughly to "Let us sing of somewhat higher things." These two words and phrases became icons for me as I went through Lent, and as I finish up the next set of 40 days with my focus on humility of appearance.

So there you go, the lowdown on arête. More on clothes, dating, and the essence of Christianity coming soon.