Geoff's Miscellany

Miscellaneous Musings

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Going to Concerts

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I went to my first concert in a long time tonight.

It was for an 80s coverband named the Spazmatics. They were pretty good.

Observations:

  1. The BMI of the concert demographic has changed tremendously.
  2. The energy levels of audience members has had an inverse relationship with the BMI.
  3. When I was younger, I loved concerts, but I hated loud sounds. It was a love/hate relationship because I have abnormally good hearing. Now that I’m older, I kid you not, concerts are even louder. I used to go to metal shows. This was much louder.
  4. The song “Safety Dance” is still awesome.
  5. I also enjoyed “Walk Like an Egyptian.”

Over all it was a good experience. But my head hurts and sounds are a bit muffled. I suspect I’ll try to limit my concerts to orchestral/symphonic pieces from now on.

Music Monday: Tear in My Heart

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This is a pretty great song.

It’s essentially about how the lead singer found wholeness with his wife. She’s the “tear in my heart” sounds bad, but what he means is “my heart is my armor, she’s the tear in my heart, she’s a carver, she’s a butcher with a smile.” I think he means this in sense that whatever reservations he has about personal growth or the kind of vulnerability it takes to do courageous things are are aspects of his life that his wife helped him find. Good marriages are like this. You have a helper.

Does Jesus ever help us make progress in “non-spiritual” pursuits?

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“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mat 7:12)

In brief, I think the answer is yes.

If, on the basis of this command, you decide that every day at work you will make people excited to work with you because of your efficiency, kindness, humor, and knowledge, then in general your work experience will improve.

If, on the basis of this command, you decide that every day you’ll attempt to give your children/spouse your time, attempt to bless them, assist them in their pursuits, and pray for them, then it is likely that your relationships will improve.

If you treat your home/neighborhood with care, then you’ll help your neighbors feel pride about their neighborhood and homes as well.

Sometimes, imo, the idea that Christians will suffer is taken to mean that they must always suffer.

Multiple Streams of Income and Proverbs

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Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.
(Pro 27:23-27)

When I was younger I’d hear things like, “You should try to have multiple streams of income.” I would think, “That’s stupid and materialistic.

Anyway, the Bible teaches that it’s simple wisdom to have a backup plan for money and food. Ignore it at your peril. Or luck out and never need it.

Lean not on your own understanding?

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Pro 3:1-5 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, (2) for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (3) Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. (4) So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

I’ve written about this passage before asking whether or not it was promoting  a form on non-deliberative mysticism.

Another question to ask is this: is the author saying that the young man, “my son,” should never lean on his own understanding?

I think the answer is no. “My son” is clearly among the simple, a group of characters in Proverbs who have the potential to become wise but are in danger of seeking folly instead.

The young man who seeks wisdom in Proverbs ultimately becomes a man of understanding:

Pro 3:13-14 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, (14) for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.

Pro 5:1-2 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, (2) that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.

Pro 14:29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.*

The stage of life in which one has no understanding is one in which one must rely on the commands of God (that doesn’t change) and the wisdom of teachers. But eventually one must gain the understanding necessary to navigate life in the case of circumstances for which there is no direct command from God or in which there are no mentors.

*In the passages cited, there are two different Hebrew words being translated “understanding,” but they are near synonyms.

Thoughts and Things

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This week I managed to deadlift 325 and 335. That’s good pos operative progress. The 335 lift was at the end of grueling back workout so my forearms and all my back muscles were exhausted. This tells me that I have significant progress to come on dead lift.

Also, this week I starting thinking about how economic principles could easily be used to make predictions about ecology. Biologists have already known this. So have mathematicians. For all I know, somebody told me about it and it just popped into my head.

I have a hypothesis that I need to find a way to test concerning connective tissue damage and the bone disorder that runs in my family.