Spell of the Sensuous - class reading

    David Abram has a gift for depicting scenery in such a tangible, compelling, and beautiful way. I have thoroughly enjoyed every piece of this book so far that includes his descriptions. On page 32, Abram writes about different scientists and philosophers that have attempted to define the world as purely mechanical and mathematical, stripping it of its beauty and liveliness, naming every untestable perception of our senses as an illusion. He then begins to describe the reality of the world as he understands it. He says, “Our direct experience is necessarily subjective, necessarily relative to our own position or place in the midst of things, to our particular desires, tastes, and concerns.” This sentence struck a chord in my heart. I am a person who has been steeped deeply in the Western perspective of the world through a classical education, but I have always felt the way Abram does about the world. I cannot view it as a series of mechanical reactions. To me, the world is a beautiful creation, and the Lord blesses me through it. When I step outside in the early morning and a tall, sleek mockingbird flits down into my path, glances at me, sings a song, and scoops air beneath his wings to land in a nearby blooming azalea bush, I am overcome with joy. The world is like a living thing in my eyes, full of blessings from the Lord. Abram describes the very same relationship with the world on the next page, though he does not mention the Lord’s hand in it. He acknowledges the world’s ability to influence his emotions and moods. He mentions how his moods influence the world as well. He is a part of the world and the world acknowledges his presence. There is a beautiful harmony between mankind and creation. Let us not pick apart the intricacies of our home at the detriment of our wonder. 


March 5, 2022

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