Reading and actual change

Not ten minutes ago I was reading a post from a friend on another site. They were saying that they found Psalms to be practical.

Here's the deal...or at least my deal. I struggle with the whole idea that religious writings of any kind are practical. Don't get me wrong, I dig on the whole "be nice to people and don't take advantage of people" vibe. But when I say practical, I'm saying that I want advice on how to not eat half of a freakin' pie or how to not think about the hot married chick at work.

What I'm saying is that scripture (and advice in general) tends to concentrate on telling rather than teaching. It is only after the stories in the scriptures have been internalized and applied to life that anything is gleaned from them. In this context, I think that what we are saying is that the scriptures themselves don't really teach... but I suppose they allow one to participate in an internal dialogue which allows for learning.

Hmm. Maybe my friend was right; I'll have to think about that. Even if I determine that he was right, I'm not convinced that I won't struggle with this concept.

Perhaps its' the agnostic in me.

A beginning

Here I am.

I'm telling myself... and this time you... that I'll put something out there for general consumption and, hopefully, general admiration (if not approval).

Consider this a beginning. Perhaps one among many.