Hello WordPress, I’m Aubrey.
I’ve been blogging since I was 13 years old. From Woohu to Livejournal to Blogspot to Tumblr, I’ve always posted the same things: pretty photos, short remarks about school, life, marching band, drum corps, and longer posts concerning lost loves, present troubles and hopes for my future achievements. While I enjoy casual blogging, I find it difficult to seriously reflect on the vast amounts of material I’m learning in school. I feel that it’s time to critically document my academic journey through philosophy, literature and apologetics. I learn so much each day, but I must admit that I often walk out of class feeling completely puzzled and with countless questions swirling through my mind. Inevitably, my perspective on culture and my walk with God is ever changing and deepening. This blog will also document my thoughts on the Christian life and the culture surrounding me.
Yet for all of the questions that have arisen, and the various schools of thought that I’ve encountered, one thing is certain. By God’s mercy and grace, I have been saved by the redeeming work of His son, Jesus Christ. Because of his perfect, sinless life, He alone was the only acceptable sacrifice that could reconcile our broken relationship with a Holy God. By Christ’s death, resurrection, and the liberation of the Holy Spirit, I can freely come to the foot of His throne to repent and worship Him, and live a life free from the captivity of sin.
In this blog, I hope to reflect on all that I learn, ponder possible connections between the thinkers and writers of years past and those of the present day, and meditate on sublime moments of clarity with the hope that I not only draw closer to the God I love, but that I also become more skilled in engaging the culture I live in with regards to Christianity.
The name of this blog, Darkened and Dazzled comes from Anslem’s Proslogion, and is a part of my continual prayer, which also contains the words of St. Augustine. I admire these two thinkers greatly.
Surely, my longing soul is both darkened in itself and dazzled by you.1 Teach my heart where and how to seek you,2 for I long to understand your truth in some way, your truth which my heart believes and loves.3 For I cannot seek you unless you teach me how, and I cannot find you unless you show yourself to me.4 Lord, may whatever I speak and write, whatever I read and calculate, serve you.5
———————————
1. Anselm. Monologion and Proslogion with the Replies of Gaunilo and Anselm. Trans. Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1995. 109. Print
2. Anselm. Monologion and Proslogion with the Replies of Gaunilo and Anselm. Trans. Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1995. 97. Print.
3. Anselm. Monologion and Proslogion with the Replies of Gaunilo and Anselm. Trans. Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1995. 99. Print.
4. Anselm. Monologion and Proslogion with the Replies of Gaunilo and Anselm. Trans. Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1995. 99. Print.
5. Saint Augustine. The Confessions of Saint Augustine. Trans. John K. Ryan. New York: Doubleday, 1960. 17. Print.
