Insight from Dostoevsky

I was reading someone recently who constantly referred to the writings and journey of Feodor Dostoevsky. So I made a little trek to my public library and picked up a copy of The Brothers Karamazov. I’m not sure if that’s the best one to start with, but I’m dipping my imagination into a bit of Russian history and culture and his style of writing has captured my interest already. I have not gotten very far into the book yet, but I keep coming across some great statements that are worth noting. Here’s the most recent...regarding the elder Father Zossima from the local monastery...

“They fell down before him, wept, kissed his feet, kissed the earth on which he stood, and wailed, while the women held up their children to him and brought him the sick ‘possessed with devils.’ The elder spoke to them, read a brief prayer over them, blessed them, and dismissed them. Of later he had become so weak through attacks of illness that he was sometimes unable to leave his cell, and the pilgrims waited for him to come out for several days. Alyosha did not wonder why they loved him so, why the fell down before him and wept with emotion merely at seeing his face. Oh! He understood that for the humble soul of the Russian peasant, worn out by grief and toil, and still more by the everlasting injustice an everlasting sin, his own and the world’s, it was the greatest need and comfort to find some one or something holy to fall down before and worship.”

That final sentence struck me because of a conversation I had today with a fellow partner/employee at Starbucks. The exchange boiled down to this (in my own estimation)...the young lady is on a journey. She’s on a journey to find authentic spirituality and a relationship with the God who has been distorted through flawed interactions with institutionalized religion. She’s beginning to read a book which could be a very formational experience with a bit of guidance and community mixed in. An interesting statement she made though...about just investigating...and not necessarily being ready to make any changes. What a telling statement! What honesty! I found it incredibly refreshing to affirm her in the process and encourage her continued interest and investigation. One of the most damaging ways the church has abused its authority as God’s chosen vehicle for revealing His Kingdom, is the tendency to require individuals to clean up and “get it straight” before the community is really available to them. That’s just not how Christ modeled sharing the Good News.

Well, it’s going to be very interesting to see how the next conversation goes! I too will be reading the same book and hopefully we’ll be able to dialogue together and perhaps even invite a few others into the investigative journey.