Getting through this bloody pandemic is hard. We need endurance: what David Brooks calls "the knowledge that the only way out is through and whatever must be borne will be borne."
Author: Richard Rabil, Jr.
By day I work as a technical writer. I write essays and fiction in my spare time.
On the Inconvenience of Surrender
C.S. Lewis once wrote that surrendering yourself is the only way to find your true self. It's a true and inspiring sentiment which, unfortunately for Christians, is diametrically opposed to just about everything a culture bent on consumerism and expressive individualism stands for.
Some Suggestions for Content Reuse
For technical writers, content reuse it a great idea---but way more difficult in practice than it sounds. Here are some of my practical suggestions on how to do it in a sustainable way, based on my years of experience implementing it with tools like Confluence and Madcap Flare.
How to Be Brave in a Pandemic
What is courage, and how do we get more of it to face the difficult days ahead? Insights from sci-fi, art, and social activism.
Fani’s Vision in ‘A Hidden Life’
What enables you to endure suffering? What gives you the hope to go on? In Fani's case, it is a glimpse of a restored world where everything sad comes untrue.
Forget Thyself
"The self-forgetful person would never be hurt particularly badly by criticism. It would not devastate them, it would not keep them up late, it would not bother them. Why?"
Cynicism and Joy
In two paragraphs Henri Nouwen conveys incredible insight on the nature of darkness and light, cynicism and joy.
“Gossiping is good,” says The Atlantic. Is it, though?
An article from The Atlantic says gossip can strengthen interpersonal bonds and make us better people. I am dubious.
Does Suffering Really Make You Stronger?
The saying "that which does not kill us makes us stronger" suggests that suffering automatically produces strength. It does not.
Waiting Is One of the Worst Parts of Suffering
One of the worst parts of suffering is waiting. Yet few times of year are better for waiting than Advent.
