A GP Poly Rant

There are Dopers that I like, and there are Dopers that I flat out admire. You’re one of the few Dopers I genuinely admire, Polycarp, and I sincerely hope that things get better for you.

[sub]Atreyu makes note to self to start visiting the Pizza Parlor[/sub]

Others have said it better, but Poly, you’ve had a much greater influence on me than my few interactions with you would indicate. I agree with everyone here except for the OP.
[sub]And Poly, I’m having trouble emailing you also…[/sub]

{{{{{Polycarp}}}}}

If I’ve contributed to this pain, I apologize. I know I was a bit vicious when I attacked that poster in the adoption debate, because I was angry. People like that should be reasoned with, not dismissed and attacked, and that’s wht I did.

When I first came to the boards, I was becoming very cynical, and part of the reason was that I was losing faith in the power of words and ideas to change people’s minds. Losing faith in calm, reasoned discussion. You helped changed that.

You’re the most respected poster on this board, after Cecil. You always have compassion, and listen to the other side. You attack ideas, not posters. You engage in calm, reasoned discussion. And most of all, you change people’s minds – maybe not the minds of the few, the proud, the closed-minded, but of many among the silent majority who read those threads and never speak up. Many times, I’ve read your posts and seen things in a new light. Perhaps if we said that more often, you wouldn’t feel as if you’re not getting through.

You’ve been the best force of good on this board that I know of. You’ve helped erase many of my prejudices. You’ve reminded us all that it isn’t Us versus Them. It’s just Us.

As for your life right now, whoever said “bad luck comes in threes” didn’t take into account inflation. It always seems useless to mention it, or cliched, but these things do pass, in time. It seems so unjust – the world tests its best people most harshly. But that’s only one way of thinking of it. Maybe the worst just aren’t worthy of taking those tests, life’s final exams.

Please don’t lose hope, Polycarp. “If gold rusts, what will iron do?”

Poly, if time away will help you regain your equilibrium, that’s what you should do. Sometimes the climate on the Boards takes a swing toward the intemperate–and sometimes it just seems that way–but either way, a little break may be in order.You will be missed as a role model and peace-maker, and your return will be eagerly awaited. Good wishes will follow you, and good wishes will greet you when you come back to us.

So I’ll just say it. PolyCarp almost every post of yours contains lessons on how to better serve God and live with our brothers and sisters. If that doesn’t get you consider the fact that I’m Jewish ;j !
Your work has not been in vain. I’m reminded of a story.
Beethoven had just finished performing a new piece. He looked out at the audience. They sat wide-eyed and slack-jawed and made no move to applaud. Ludwig saw that they were stunned at how terrible his new work had been. Broken hearted, he began to walk off the stage. Once he was hidden by the curtain, he began to cry. At that moment, some one grabbed his elbow and pulled him back to the stage. The audience was on its feet. Beethoven could not hear them, but he could see their applause and the great joy in their faces. His music had been so beautiful that for a moment the audience was too captivated to move. It was that moment that Beethoven had seen.

::hugs::

Look, I don’t know what to say. Just that if I hadn’t had the example of you on the boards, which really pretty much opened my mind to the fact that Christianity–and Christians–might be okay after all, I probably wouldn’t have heard God when he spoke to me through someone at school. I would’ve shrugged it off. But I didn’t, and I listened, and I’m much better off for it.

I hold a lot of respect for you (the good kind)…I really don’t know what else to say. I hope you feel better, though.

You do make a difference, Poly…people in this very thread have testified to that. But at the same time, if the MB world is getting you down, you can take a break, or even quit altogether, and I promise you we won’t all degenrate into raving loons (the ones who aren’t already, that is :wink: ). Even if we do go to pot, it’s not your fault, whatever you did or did not do–and you don’t have to fix the whole world all by yourself!

The job situation sucks right now, I agree, and it’s always rough to be out of work. Perhaps while you look for the right job you could try some charity or temp work–you’ll be doing good and getting out of the house, and also making contacts that might help you get the job you’ve always dreamed of. Good luck, and I hope things start looking up for you soon.

I kept reading the thread title as A PG Poly Rant and have been skipping over it because, well, what else would he do? Can anyone imagine Poly giving a PG-13 rant, much less an R rant?

Having finally opened and read the OP, I’ll have to chime in with everyone else and say “You do good work.”

I would make two two specific observations regarding of the OP:

  • playing Sisyphus in not the most enjoyable roll–even Prometheus at least got a moment of glory and was finally rescued by Herakles;
  • unemployment is extemely enervating–do not underestimate its power to induce depression.

Take comfort in the story of Job, (who, as those of who have actually read it recall, was not a paragon of patience). Have a good rant, then back to shouldering the wheel, for you. :wink:

Gosh, Poly, I’m sorry you feel so low. I know this doesn’t amount to much, but I think you’re super. If you need any references, I’d be happy to tell that to a potential employer.

Once upon a time I found strength and comfort in the following:

As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne. Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let ourselves become discouraged and give up.
Hebrews 12:1-3

You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears. Aren’t they listed in your book? The day I call to you, my enemies will be turned back. I know this: God is on my side—the Lord, whose promises I praise. In him I trust, and I will not be afraid. What can a mere human being do to me? O God, I will offer you what I have promised; I will give you my offering of thanksgiving, because you have rescued me from death and kept me from defeat. And so I walk in the presence of God, in the light that shines on the living.
Psalm 56:8-13
You keep running the race and walking in that light Poly. You’ve got quite a few people cheering you on and I think it’s safe to say that we are all wearing sunglasses.

Even Cece admits it’s a bummer that combatting Ignorance is taking longer than expected. (Assume grin and tongue planted firmly in cheek.)

The tussle’s endless but it matters that it’s engaged with fairness, heart, balance and with an eye toward the best human attempt toward the best we can know of truth. The process can be incredibly wearing, even leavened by sporadic flashes of human connection and “OH!” moments.

You’re one of the absolute best at staying centered while still reaching out to others. But that’s suprisingly draining, especially in presence of immediate-life demands. The WILL doesn’t change but the sheer capacity does.

I’m hopelessly inept at citing apt Christian stuff here, but my early training recalls that even Jesus got tired. He got discourgaged with human cussedness, willful nastiness and wrong-headedness. He needed a break to back off, listen and draw strength again.

Of folks I’ve met here–or in “real life”-- who try to live The Life, you’re it.

You’re teaching grace. But sometimes even Teachers need to rest.

We’ll be here if and when.

Veb

I have been trying all morning to post a message thanking all of you and letting you know what a blessing this entire thread has been to me.

It keeps getting shipped off to the bit bucket – apparently the hamsters cannot keep up, and toss it off to one side. (Do you suppose there is an alternate universe where everything sent to /dev/null ends up? :))

I’ll try to write it offline and then copy and post it. Until then, please accept this brief and inadequate but heartfelt thanks.

I am truly humbled by the love and support that has been evinced in every single response in this thread. I am simply amazed.

Spritle: I had not seen your 1000th-post thread, since you began it during a time when I had no consistent access to the board. I’ve now read it, and am grateful for the tribute you paid me in beginning it and in the topic you covered – or at least tried to cover, despite ladies of ill repute bearing soft cheeses and misquotations from J. Alfred Prufrock. :slight_smile:

John Corrado: I got a chuckle out of you playing off the paraphrased quote in my OP, at a time when I needed a chuckle. I appreciate you and what you have to say, and still maintain that you’re the board’s leading expert on Pharaonic incest!

Francesca: You were the first to raise the recurring theme that much of what I’ve done has been to touch the people who are not passionate about issues and as a result do not post. But it occurs to me that maybe more people ought to be passionate about issues that will sooner or later affect them or their loved ones – but to keep in mind, as will be easier in such circumstances, that your opponent is neither bigoted nor a total idiot just for holding a different view than you.

Beeblebrox: I don’t think I’m Sisyphus, but the idea did furnish a useful metaphor for how I was feeling. Although for him and for me, if one let’s go, “it’s still rock and roll.” :wink:

Triskadecamus: Brother, your loving support and prayers are always needed and always appreciated. But this time, your concrete advice was most important. I’ve read it, changed my thinking on what’s a possibility, and I will be acting on it. (Do you feel like Victor Frankenstein yet? ;))

Homebrew: Perhaps the single thing in the entire thread that touched me most deeply (as I have a hunch you knew it would) was your giving me back the Last Beatitude that I gave to JayJay when he needed it.

Guinastasia: I saw your thread, and now understand more of why you posted it. I felt my first answer over there was inadequate, and I’ve tried to say a bit more of how I feel (and answer Happyheathen’s tongue-in-cheek (I hope) comment as well).

Tris., Lissla Lissar and CJHoworth: Your prayers are of course something that I very much appreciate – but I must report to you as well that they were answered, promptly (alas, not the one for a job, yet) – in that the strength and encouragement that you asked God to give me, He gave, in large measure through the posts on this thread.

Grienspace: I completely understand what you are saying. Though I too do not doubt that we disagree on a wide variety of issues, let’s note that it is “issues” that we disagree on, not on the basic relationship that makes God our loving Father and Christ our Lord, Savior and Brother, and hence makes us brothers in spirit. And what has been said to me, I need to say to you: if people, especially Christians, who disagree read and wrote with as much respect and understanding of their opponents as you do, the world would be a much more pleasant place in which to live.

CJHoworth: Quoting the post-communion prayer on p. 365 at me was a stroke of genius; that is often what sustains me from one week to the next in keeping on doing this stuff. Regarding your not entering into GD that much, my POV is that all it takes is saying what we believe, regardless of what others may think or say or do. Although to that must be added caring about what they feel and say and do, because only by doing that, by showing love for them in that concrete and practical way, are we equipping ourselves to respond fairly and treat them with dignity and grace. And through this we are showing Christ to them.

London Calling: Your diagnosis was very close to being a bullseye. When one feels impotent – not with the sexual meaning but in terms of being unable to influence or affect the world around you (or seeing yourself in that state) one’s self-esteem is eroded away.

Hamish: You certainly did not contribute to the problem. All one needs to do is to see the other guy’s perspective. Not necessarily agree that he’s right, but simply to understand where he’s coming from. Then you can reason with him and show him where, in your opinion, he’s wrong, with some hope that you can communicate – because you’re aware of his point of view, and showing him yours on the basis of his.

vanilla dumps a bucket of popcorn over poly’s head!
yay!:smiley:

Lord, thank you for letting me play dirty pool with the BCP. :slight_smile:

Welcome back, Polycarp. This board is a much poorer place without you.

CJ

A slight modification of part of the Baptismal Covenant:

CJ, will you seek to serve God in all persons, even those in Great Debates, loving your neighbor as yourself?

(Two can play at dirty pool with the BCP! ;))

I will with God’s help.
[Long, muttered conversation with entire Trinity] :wink:
CJ

Poly-I have to ask-have you ever heard of a Bishop Jon Shelby Spong? I was reading his books at Borders yesterday-very interesting.

For what it’s worth, reading the posts of Polycarp helped me get over a bit of prejudice against Christians. Just by virtue of being one of the fiew vocal Christians who tries to live up to the Christian ideal I hope Poly knows the good he has done.

Hmmm, that’s a good question Poly. Have you? :slight_smile:
grinning because The Multi-Carp and I have discussed Spong’s rather, um, “controversial” positions many a time.

Guinastasia, I would recommend Spong’s books to believers and non believers alike because his concept of what he sees the future of Christianity to be is very challenging. I don’t always agree with him, but he sparks the mind, that’s for sure.

Mars