May 29th was G.K. Chesterton’s birthday. He would be 134 today. John Piper with Desiring God Ministries recommends in celebration of G.K.’s birthday that you read his book Orthodoxy.
I decided it would be good to share a G.K. Chesterton quote today and here’s the one that I enjoyed the most from the list Piper shared…
- “Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial. Melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul. Pessimism is at best an emotional half-holiday; joy is the uproarious labor by which all things live.” (159)
Enjoy and choose Joy and Praise God and praise someone in the flesh around you today!!
Love this photo of G.K.
Oh and here’s a confession ~I can only understand G.K. one sentence at a time or maybe one paragraph. I do appreciate minds like his and C.S. Lewis’ even if I need Cliff notes to understand them….
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
I love Chesterton quotes and have many in my collection but I have never read anything of his, to my shame.
I’m on a break from buying books this year (I’m pretty sure I’ve only cheated twice–(your books being one of the times!) but I’ve got a list going of books I want. This is going on it!
Here’s one for you:
“A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.”
I’m with you on needing the Cliffs. I have in mind that when I’m all grown up I’ll be able to read his books. To truth, I need to just buckle down and do it.
Interesting post Ellen. Thankyou for the birthday greetings.
Pessimism is at best an emotional half-holiday; joy is the uproarious labor by which all things live.
LOVE THAT!
Great picture of him.
Joy really is a choice, isn’t it! What a good reminder, Ellen.
What a great quote, full of widsom! I’ve never before heard of G.K. Chesterton, thanks for this!
A wonderful quote!
He is meaty.
Hahaha — Ellen, I am with you there, on the hard of understand CK Chesterton and CS Lewis. I would add Ravi Zacharias to that list too! 🙂
Great quote! I haven’t tried reading CK Chesterton yet, but I know it would be one sentence at a time! You are not alone…
Dorothy Sayers is another one…when I read Mind of the Maker earlier this year it was very hard work, and I still don’t quite get everything she was saying! There were flashes of insight that came to me, but they were few. Whew! It will need several more readings I’m afraid.