Peter Kreeft's Talk on Desire

[Ar13l]

I’m curious to know if anybody’s listened to Peter Kreeft’s talk on “Desire, the innate hunger for total joy”. I find it interesting because I’ve had this strange “feeling” that I’ve been unable to shake for the last five years and Kreeft’s talk really reverberates with me.

This “feeling” is boredom. Sad to say because most people don’t feel boredom (unless you’re six years old and you don’t have TV to watch). But I feel a deep, profound boredom, one in which I intuitively know is not psychological, rather it is spiritual. And I feel bad for saying this because boredom and spiritual aren’t supposed to be compatible issues. Note: I love my Catholic Faith. I love God, and my cup runneth over *for sho’ *(as they say these days).

One other strange thing: I am doing well in the material sense. I have a nice life, take nice vacations, own nice cars, own a nice house, married to a lovely wife, etc, etc. Thanks be to God.

Yet I still have this sense of boredom.

I concede 98% of those reading this will be confused (even I’m confused). But if you can relate and you find Kreeft’s talk applicable to you, I would like to hear from you. Please commiserate. Misery loves company.

 

[gam197]

originally posted by AR131
Yet I still have this sense of boredom.

I haven’t read his book but I saw a short version on the internet which seem to just speak about the desire for God which nothing else can fulfill.

There is nothing wrong with having a sense of boredom. I think many adults have that. I know we tell kids, “If you say you’re bored one more time, I’ll give you work to do.” That is just to stop the habitual sayings that kids often say “I,m bored”. It doesn’t mean that everyone doesn’t feel bored at times or that it is wrong to feel bored.

For me, boredom is often a sign that God is calling me to do something. I may or may not want to do it so I often wait to see if I really want to or need follow up. God calls each of us to do certain things to help bring about his kingdom. Every one of us is extremely important.

Hopefully others can relate and help answer how they feel about it.

 

[Ar13l]

Thank you for your thoughts, gam197. It’s a strange topic I realize. I think CS Lewis must have felt the same way I did, except he didn’t call his feeling boredom. Lewis felt a “longing”. I feel that longing, like I’m watching paint dry and my soul wants to watch the Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point (I recommend doing this by the way).

By the way, here’s the link.

I need to pray and reflect. I’ll follow up in a few months. Thanks, again, gam197!

 

[zemi]

I’m curious to know if anybody’s listened to Peter Kreeft’s talk on “Desire, the innate hunger for total joy”. I find it interesting because I’ve had this strange “feeling” that I’ve been unable to shake for the last five years and Kreeft’s talk really reverberates with me.

This “feeling” is boredom. Sad to say because most people don’t feel boredom (unless you’re six years old and you don’t have TV to watch). But I feel a deep, profound boredom, one in which I intuitively know is not psychological, rather it is spiritual. And I feel bad for saying this because boredom and spiritual aren’t supposed to be compatible issues. Note: I love my Catholic Faith. I love God, and my cup runneth over *for sho’ *(as they say these days).

One other strange thing: I am doing well in the material sense. I have a nice life, take nice vacations, own nice cars, own a nice house, married to a lovely wife, etc, etc. Thanks be to God.

Yet I still have this sense of boredom.

I concede 98% of those reading this will be confused (even I’m confused). But if you can relate and you find Kreeft’s talk applicable to you, I would like to hear from you. Please commiserate. Misery loves company.

Hi, Ar13l!

I love Peter Kreeft! I love his books and all his speeches. I definitely know that one. That argument comes originally from C.S. Lewis, whom maybe you know P. Kreeft admires. I think Kreeft is the best read philosopher today. He’s got great books. He’s a modern saint.

Everyone knows that feeling of boredom even when you have everything.

As St. Augustine says: “Restless are our hearts Lord untill they rest in you” It is as simple as that.