Looking for God and Greatness ‘Low Enough,’ lesson from a Landscaper’s Son.
More so it is lowliness of Heart which makes a great Master of any Art or Skill. Because My Father didn’t mind rolling around in the dirt [as a Landscaper] even at the age of 60,...
Looking for God and Greatness ‘Low Enough,’ lesson from a Landscaper’s Son.
“Modern man can't see God because he doesn't look low enough.”
― Carl Jung
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
— Matthew 11:29
Watching and helping My Father work to remove stumps in a Customer’s back yard this dawned on Me. That even though He had employed 3 Men continuously and cycled through [and employed over time] of some 20 individuals. After He removed the biggest most stubborn of the stumps He used His hands to brush over the soil to smooth out the surface of the garden bed. I cleared and moved away the bramble of branches. And I thought “My Father Doesn’t Begrudge labouring over the smallest and lowest of details literally fanning dirt with his bare hands even after being in business for 30+ Years.” I was glad to help Him that given day.
And it struck Me all the vanity a certain persons I have seen over My podcasting and blog writing and on the internet in general, someone accused Me of plagiarizing Their Ideas. After I had cursorily read over some of Their articles in preparation to give them positive feedback and support [having recommended Their Substack]. The honest truth is that They had nothing worth stealing assuming that I was indeed dishonest.
Then I thought back to the honesty and humility of work that My Father did and which He made Me do growing Up. And How In My First 6 months of My Substack and the First One and a Half Years of My YouTube Lectures I sucked at it too. I Hope and count on improving with time and effort and I fully expect to look back on 2023 as My novice work. I’ve learned so much in 3 years since being 25 years old and I count on becoming wiser every year farther into My life journey.
But the Jealousy and Envy so rampant on the internet is breathtaking. The Confederacy of Dunces if You Like.
The Truth is that these people never learn because they don’t look low enough, to every letter of every word they type or text. The formulation of words into sentences and then paragraphs united under One Rubric Idea. And as Nietzsche Said it is the gift or power of a ‘single taste’ which is becoming of the great creative geniuses.
More so it is lowliness of Heart which makes a great Master of any Art or Skill. Because My Father didn’t mind rolling around in the dirt even at the age of 60, He is the best Landscaper by Virtue in His Domain. And the Locals and Local Businesses know it too.
When about two years ago I told someone in My Men’s ‘Catholic’ reading circle that I wanted to be a ‘Man of Letters,’ they laughed at Me with a cocky grin.
Now I look to every word I write and speak, I think about the advice of the Great Writer Charles Bukowski who said that every line must go ‘da-da-Da-da’ not like boring writers who write ‘blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.’ There must Be action and Movement and ‘Juice’ in every expressed thought on the page.
So I promise this to You in My Future Writing. That I will not be afraid to type everything One letter at a time. To bring the charge or the juice of what good writing is made of. Because My Father laboured with His Hands to give Me this opportunity. I will labour to Make it Worth Your While. So look Low My Friends. Labour every speck in Your work. Because the Specks make a Mosaic which speaks to His Glory Our Father.
Cheers and Blessings, - Greg W.
I recently started reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. The originality of his writing struck me by page one. Just an example of power in finding one’s true style.
Not looking low enough, I’ll remember that.