Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

When we have an eternal perspective, the “New Oil in Readiness” we eschew the temporality of the “Goblet of Intoxication.” Then, the patience in expectancy becomes manifest. Eternity triumphs over the world. A world that often is shaded by pain. https://youtu.be/g9Uoup9Gjn4?si=sTxt2OVSGoPqf0qP

Soren writes, “Once again, cast your sorrow upon the Lord…for this heavenly expectancy begins precisely when the earthly expectancy sinks down powerless in despair.” Cast our hope upon God. Not this world. Keep Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. https://youtu.be/rm9coqlk8fY?si=lL2EF3bp9Nir5jcw

Soren writes much about Anna, that she is, despite her age, the eternal’s young fiancée; this tranquility in her eyes that nevertheless is expectant. Of God’s coming in Jesus. It is the fulfillment of all her hope over all those years. She is an example to all of us to put our hope where it belongs, onto God. Not this world which is passing away.

Soren writes, “If a person’s soul comes to a standstill in the monotony of self-concern and self-preoccupation, then he/she is bordering on soul rot unless the contemplation stirs and moves him/her.” The contemplation of God and His promises for deliverance. In this world and the world to come.

Expectancy is a hope. For the night of troubles to end and for the day of hope to begin. Jesus, we are reminded on this day of Valentine’s and Lent, took our ashes and gives us his beauty. What love is this!

Patience does not abandon anyone in any distress. It waits even if we push it away. For patience is ultimately based in the character of God in eternity. Let patience create eternity in our temporality, peace in our problems, tranquility in our troubles.

Our guest today is Soren himself! Rather than blather on about it, give it a listen!

How is it that Impatience is both cold and a fire? Those two things are never paired together. Soren employs this dichotomy to tell us that Impatience will leave us alienated and alone and yet still burn without ceasing. It sounds like Hell itself. The worst possible condition. Seek out Patience. For she is a faithful friend.

When we lose patience, fail to find and preserve it, our souls get bruised and eventually broken. We find ourselves discontent and with others who are discontent. The Council of the Mockers. The Jaded. The Cynical. Take time, make time, for God. For he is our resting place.

“The soul that has the courage to give up everything else…and when the soul does not believingly aspire to the eternal, does not hopefully hurry toward the future, is not lovingly in understanding with God and human beings, it is lost. On the contrary, if it announces itself in this powerful presence, then the single individual has indeed saved his soul.” (p. 193, 18 Upbuilding Discourses).

When we have the soul patience and trust that God is working in us and through us for our and others’ good and His glory, then we can lay aside impatience and be at peace with our past, calm in the present, and tranquil about the future. We trust he is making our souls better. And not bitter. Ephesians 4:31-32. That is a solid thought for 2024! * A reminder that Bierkergaard is on Instagram and X....

By pleasure, Soren means the pursuit of things of this world without eternity in mind and lacking the patience in our souls. Make space for the eternal. Therefore, we won’t “Slave in worry’s deliberation.” Trust God. Take time, for we have eternity.

In losing our soul, it is us that does it. No one else has that power and authority. We trade our souls to gain the world. And in death, have lost both our souls and the world. * I use the word “We” as admission that no one is safe from making this transaction with eternal consequences. ** I am also working on being more patient behind the wheel and just enjoying the drive despite the chaos. Happy...

We gain our soul by surrender. We preserve our soul likewise by surrender. To God. Refusing to allow the world to cross the walls of our soul and fill it inordinately with the cares and frustrations of this life.

The world says if you want something, go after it. Be strong and take it. In matters of the soul, we gain by losing. A letting go versus a taking up. Surrender to God is victory. Lose oneself to gain oneself.

Soren considers trading the soul for the world; eternality for temporality. Some reflection at the beginning on parenting and then a brief discussion on post-Temple Rabbinic Judaism. Then, Soren.

“The world can be possessed by only possessing me…may it not be the world’s stratagem to lead a person to think that if he possesses the world that he is not possessed by it.” We end with a prayer of St. Augustine.

Soren calls Patience a “Poor Bird.” As compared to a bird that comes “parading and posturing.” Instead, “It comes like a soft breeze and the incorruptible essence of a quiet spirit. Patience is a poor art and yet it is very long.” Cultivating patience of soul is a lifelong endeavor, as we look to eternity versus this passing world’s adversities and prosperities. As a note, I’ll add another survey...

To gain one’s soul in patience. Soren writes, “Patience is a poor bird.” “It does not come parading and posturing but comes like a soft breeze and the incorruptible essence of a quiet spirit.” Also reviewed in this episode are the first 8 Upbuilding Discourses. P.S. My apology on the excessive background noise in the recording today. I was moving a lot more material around and the like. I will be...

Soren concludes this Upbuilding Discourse: “The equality of love which lasts and is the only thing that lasts.”

We are most like Jesus when we give with an open hand, a pure heart, and a clear conscience, where we have no demands of reciprocation. Doing so greatly assists us when encountering feedback that is negative or apathetic. God blesses us spiritually.

Soren writes that we are to offer good gifts without lording it over the recipient. We are to be humble. We are just stewards. The gift then is from God. Not us.

Soren challenges us to use our talents not for worldly acclaim or deflecting criticism, but to genuinely do good in the world. Give without expectations of applause or avoiding boos, and let God take it from there. As mentioned, I will be on WITF-The Spark on November 3rd. I’ll be talking about my book “On The Edge: Transitioning Imaginatively To College” and will definitely be sneaking some Soren...

Alan Torrance and Andrew Torrance joined us today to talk about their book (the podcast title) and the profound implications of Kierkegaard and Barth for the 21st Century Church and world, and the influence of Kierkegaard on Barth. This conversation is a theological tour de force with many implications for us as Christians in our present day as we peer into the future.

Soren writes in this Upbuilding Discourse #8 “the divine equality that like a fire burns ever more intensely in the difference without, however humanly speaking, consuming it.” We are to treat all people equally before God, despite the differences we have.