Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 2:34 PM
Passion
Finally finished reading the Razor's Edge, for perhaps the third or fifth time, I don't really remember anymore. At any rate, it is one of the few books I have been compelled to read more than once. Of course, I was always drawn to Larry -- without him the book would never have been written. What caught my attention this time, was a conversation between the narrator and Isabel, about halfway through the book. He goes on for almost two pages about passion. Passion these days is either connected to romance or being enthusiastic about something, which has little to do with the word's original meaning, which was "suffering or enduring." There is something romantic about our current meaning of the word. To be passionate about someone or something is exceptional, it makes one more alive than the rest of us. But Maugham knows better. "Unless love is passion, it's not love, but something else; and passion thrives not on satisfaction, but on impediment. . . . Passion is desctructive. . . . And if it doesn't destroy, it dies." Of course, within the Christian tradition, there is the Passion of Christ and all the suffering that entailed, which precedes God's greatest act of love. Juxtaposed with our current concept of passion of being more alive, the notion of suffering and destruction as the key element to being really alive is a completely foreign concept. Not only is it foreign but it's scary, too. Few people say, "Pain! Oh, yeah, bring it on!" (unless you happen to be into some pretty kinky stuff.) On the other hand, the idea of walking around half-dead just to be comfortable and conflict-free is also unappealing. God grant me the courage to rise above playing it safe.
By adriennelibrarian at 2:34 PM
By adriennelibrarian at 2:34 PM
said...
Adrienne the librarian...I think I love you.
In all seriousness, The Razor's Edge has long been a favorite of mine. I see this post was years ago...but it rings true every day with me...
Thanks for the post.
~
