The Venerable Bede

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Two years of reading a scant amount of history, and touching a surface of different historical eras has, most discouragingly, proved that I know nothing. The tragedy of history distanced me from God, and life's circumstances temporarily dangled before me the scary prospect of Deism and how it could be possible. Nevertheless, one historical character distinguished himself despite his place as an afterthought in the chapter. The story of the Venerable Bede overcame my doubts.

Born in 673 A.D., he went to the monastery in Wearmouth, England at age seven and never left the area. He became the most learned man in Europe despite his isolation and his writings form the greatest written compendium of English history of the Middle Ages. His historical accounts allowed others to date events beginning with the birth of Jesus Christ and furthermore, his reason for writing history stood out. He stated, “For if history records good things of good men, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good; or if it records evil of wicked men, the good, religious reader or listener is encouraged to avoid all that is sinful and perverse, and to follow what he knows to be good and pleasing to God.”

Upon learning of Bede, I wondered how he came to have books and discovered the life of St. Benedicte Biscop. A man of noble birth, his life, behind the scenes, led to Bede's histories also. Leaving lands and title behind, he left England with St. Wilfred and visited Rome. Following years of travel and religious instruction, he returned with books and treasures gathered abroad. Enthused, King Egfrith awarded him lands where Biscop built two monasteries of stone and glazed windows; techniques and materials heretofore never used.

Over time and travels, he gathered books, paintings and relics, enough to create an extensive library and a cultural atmosphere in which to inspire Bede to excellence and devotion in his work. Ostensibly, the two worked from different angles, one having access to material items,culture and noble roots and the other lacking familial ties and any hope of wealth but who had access to what St. Benedicte Biscop built. The two comprehended their roles under God.

Thus one sees how opposite purposes play out. One's isolation and the ideal worldliness of the other worked for our good. Depending on one's point of view, their good works could serve as tenets for mere religion yet this was not how the monasteries were formed. These men had an abiding faith, not in the universe or the interconnectedness it entails, but in the God who created it and the purposes which he created for us. For me that is the lesson. One must understand their place in the world and then pray to accept it.

Currently, society attempts to obliterate historical dating from the birth of Jesus albeit his life and the salvation he offers inspired history and buttressed the writings of a man who recorded history for the world. Even so, the rejection of this history inspires us to march forward and to find our place in the world.

2001. 2001.The Venerable Bede ((673-735).Britannia.com. Retrieved December 1, 2012 from http://britannia.com/bios/bede.html

2001.St. Benedicte Biscop. Retrieved December 1, 2012 from http://www.britannia.com/bios/saints/benedictbiscop.html

Politics - We're not supposed to write about this stuff.

 

The best way to alienate one’s audience would be to write about politics yet oddly, this is what I am doing. I thought it would be interesting to consider what it would be like if Abraham Lincoln was running, after all, he did face one of the greatest moral dilemmas. It is curious to ponder whether he would be elected now as the debates over spending, abortion and same-sex marriage continue.

Interestingly, Lincoln was elected because he had not publicly taken extreme views even though he clearly delineated his beliefs for the audience. He did not defend slavery but understood that taking on the issue at the wrong time would likely exacerbate the problem. Earlier in his career he had been defeated because as a Whig, he championed spending projects on roads and infrastructure that came crashing down when the nation subsequently faced recession.

As if that were not enough, he did not express an interest in any religion and his wife Mary very often consulted with “spiritists,” especially after the deaths of their two sons. It is said that the Lincolns did not believe in an afterlife although my personal opinion is that he came to understand the existence of God through great trial.

Many love to quote Lincoln because truly, his character was so stellar. He was the savior to the union not because he defended or fought against slavery or because he subscribed to any type of faith whatsoever. Conservatives tend to overlook this factor while some liberals wish to pretend       that personal values play no part in government. Lincoln understood that they do and this is why he had so much compassion for the South. Old customs die hard.

Acknowledging my own bias, I believe that Lincoln saved the Union because God used him to do so no matter what belief system he held. In my estimation, God chooses the candidate who will best refine the nation’s character and to me, His choice is never merely Democrat or Republican.

 

The Nobility of the Marathon

I am not a runner but have always been mesmerized by the history behind the 26.2 mile run. I can envision the events in my mind and picture the sprints as they occurred. It is 490 B.C. in Greece and the Persian army has landed in the city of Marathon. Outnumbered 5 to 1, citizens hurriedly send Pheidippides to run to Sparta to get reinforcements. The Spartans refuse to fight just now because a full moon does not bode well. Therefore, this runner races back, 150 miles is the round trip, to fight the Persians. He fights in the battle helping to fell 6,400 Persians and then runs to Athens, 25 miles distant. He collapses and shouts, “Rejoice, we conquer.” Death comes quickly as his body gives way to exhaustion.

This battle and its runner changed the course of history as Greece outmaneuvered Persia and steadily rose in prominence in cultural, military and in intellectual realms. The 1896 Greek Olympic Games celebrated that prowess with a 24.8 mile run. In 1908 however, the games were held in London. Because the royal family wished to see the finish from their viewing box, the course was extended to 26.2 miles and this was cemented as the Olympic norm in 1924.

Does this make you want to run? Some people state that as they run they feel as one with other runners and this creates close friendships. Feelings of power, courage, dogged determination and the ebullience of the crowd advance them to the finish. Perhaps this is life’s microcosm. Running a race gives one the stamina to face circumstances head on. Whatever the motivation, happy running today; life and its history simply press one to move forward.

Did you know? At the 1924 Paris games, wine was served at the fluid replacement stations as it was thought that alcohol decreased fatigue.

“You know you are a runner when you smirk when non-runners ask you, “So how long is this marathon?”

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General References

Dunham, D. (2011. September 7). Retrieved October 1, 2012 from, http://blisstree.com/move/running/back-to-fitness-why-everyone-should-run-a-marathon-703/

Luff, C. (2012, September 1). You know you're a runner when. About.com. Retrieved from, http://running.about.com/od/runninghumor/a/knowyourearunner.htm

Seick, C. (2012, June 28).Retrieved October 1, 2012 from, http://www.walkjogrun.net/blog/index.cfm/2102/6/28/

The history of the marathon. Retrieved October 1, 2012 from, http://www.exercisetherighttoread.org/historyofmarathon.pdf