One thing I noticed is the stories that elevate us are not ones we tell about ourselves, but ones that are witnessed, mostly unexpectedly, in the acts of others who are not seeking attention through their actions. I think self-promotion of one’s charitable work and such in social media sucks the air out of the balloon. In fact, the selfless acts that are clearly not attention-seeking, in my opinion, elevate us most effectively.
Thanks for a fantastic article. As one weary of the news cycle’s fixation on the horrific, I look forward to your book!
This was wonderful! Lately I've been thinking about the staying power of stories that emphasize goodness and elevation--have been in the midst of a Tolkien deep dive and his work acts that out so thoroughly. Lots of good stuff to consider about enchantment, transcendence, elevation, and their interplay.
This was a wonderful read, and I'm certainly looking forward to reading "The Remarkable Ordinary".
I was wondering if you've read this book -- "The Altruistic Personality" by Samuel and Pearl Oliner?
What led ordinary men and women to risk their lives on behalf of others? It's about the rescuers of Jews in Nazi Germany. I'm halfway through, and I think you'd enjoy it.
I think that’s why I love good children’s literature like Narnia filled with images of courage and virtue; I’m not brave but the stories make me want to be brave 💗
i most appreciated the point that this emotion\experience is contingent upon the moral intuitions and goodness of the person in a sense. i will be thinking more about this. and that for a certain sort of person a generous act can make them worse, also a degenerate grade of this emotion is available in the person of the anti-hero. it would also be interesting if there are contingencies on the other end, as regards the medium\message. great post per usual!
Yeah isn’t that so strange? I wanted to cover that point more in depth but just couldn’t make it not seem like a total rabbit trail. I’d be super interested to see what you come up with though!!
Griffin, I’m truly inspired by this project! Even in highlighting these “ordinary” elevations, I think you are accomplishing exactly what you discussed in your article. You’re putting these “Kingdom breakthrough” moments in the forefront of the minds of your readers, and hopefully motivating people to altruistic action that will display God to a broken world. Even if they feel guilty that they don’t want to mimic these stories, it might at least cause them to look at themselves and wonder why (some self-introspection).
I also thought the “scarcity mindset” connection was intriguing. It’s wild to me that people can feel this way, because it points to how self-perceived “abundance” is so multi-faceted. And I loved that you pointed out how people often feel more fulfilled when helping others than when investing in care only for themselves. I think this should be emphasized more in our society! 😊 Great article!!
This is a great piece, with so many wonderful details to reflect on. I do wonder about this, though: "But conversely, it also explains why we don’t like these stories." While anti-hero stories are undeniably popular (and your explanation for their appeal is compelling), there are also hugely popular collections of uplifting stories that people seem to love—like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
P.S. The recent book by happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey (Build the Life You Want) has a whole chapter on the importance of spirituality/religion to lasting happiness (Brooks, interestingly, says his Catholic faith is the most important part of his life). The book emphasizes an other-centric view as key to happiness: "The focus of a faith or spiritual practice must not be primarily an inner one. The benefit to ourselves is immense, but the motive must be a search for truth and the love of others" (192); "you get the personal benefit when that benefit is not the goal" (190).
Loved the whole post. Can't wait for the Remarkable Ordinary.
"In fact, scientists who’ve analyzed thousands of narrative arcs boil down their pattern to that single word: comeuppance (i.e., when justice is served). Basically, this moral radar is so hardwired into us that we feel gipped if our plots don’t set wrong things right."
What got my attention here was a study that demonstrated how different cultures respond to equality. The experiment went something like this: give Person A 100 dollars, and tell them they may split the amount in any fashion with Person B. Person B then can either accept the split, or say "No." If they say "No," neither person gets any money.
In some cultures, if Person A were to offer, say, a 70-30 split, Person B would accept because, "Either I get $30, or I get nothing. Seems like an easy choice to me." Whereas in other cultures (wealthier ones, if I recall rightly) anything less than a 50-50 split evokes a sense of injustice and Person B rejects the deal. "I'd rather have nothing than settle for less than equal."
All of this to say, I think you're right that "comeuppance" is hardwired into us, but the specific expression or meaning of that idea is at least in part culturally determined.
Interesting comment, Stanton! And, leaning toward the "nature" side, there was that famous experiment years ago by Frans de Waal with the capuchin monkeys who got angry when they found others were given better pay for the same work (https://www.nature.com/articles/nature01963).
I believe the experiment is called the "ultimatum game." I don't remember where I first heard it, but I think the conclusion at the bottom of this paper talks about my point: https://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~henrich/Website/Papers/ult.pdf
This has some beautiful resonance with Makoto Fujimura’s book Culture Care. As he works to define beauty, he draws a connection between beauty and justice, which I think is amplified and clarified by your writing here today about moral beauty and shalom.
There’s a lot more to his book, and it’s well worth a read, but this coincided nicely with a conversation I just had with my artist friends about beauty/justice/shalom. So good!
It's so accurate, though! I even noticed myself be more drawn to my own husband after witnessing him help someone in dire need in our church congregation. So it's hot even after you're married. ;)
One thing I noticed is the stories that elevate us are not ones we tell about ourselves, but ones that are witnessed, mostly unexpectedly, in the acts of others who are not seeking attention through their actions. I think self-promotion of one’s charitable work and such in social media sucks the air out of the balloon. In fact, the selfless acts that are clearly not attention-seeking, in my opinion, elevate us most effectively.
Thanks for a fantastic article. As one weary of the news cycle’s fixation on the horrific, I look forward to your book!
This was wonderful! Lately I've been thinking about the staying power of stories that emphasize goodness and elevation--have been in the midst of a Tolkien deep dive and his work acts that out so thoroughly. Lots of good stuff to consider about enchantment, transcendence, elevation, and their interplay.
Love that!! Thanks for reading :)
I love the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven breaking into the present reality. So well articulated, and we can all be a part of that!
This was a wonderful read, and I'm certainly looking forward to reading "The Remarkable Ordinary".
I was wondering if you've read this book -- "The Altruistic Personality" by Samuel and Pearl Oliner?
What led ordinary men and women to risk their lives on behalf of others? It's about the rescuers of Jews in Nazi Germany. I'm halfway through, and I think you'd enjoy it.
That’s so interesting that you bring up that book! I just posted a note about it earlier this week! It’s an incredible read.
Ha! Great minds and all that!
I think that’s why I love good children’s literature like Narnia filled with images of courage and virtue; I’m not brave but the stories make me want to be brave 💗
I can totally see that!! Those types of narratives are wonderful.
i most appreciated the point that this emotion\experience is contingent upon the moral intuitions and goodness of the person in a sense. i will be thinking more about this. and that for a certain sort of person a generous act can make them worse, also a degenerate grade of this emotion is available in the person of the anti-hero. it would also be interesting if there are contingencies on the other end, as regards the medium\message. great post per usual!
Yeah isn’t that so strange? I wanted to cover that point more in depth but just couldn’t make it not seem like a total rabbit trail. I’d be super interested to see what you come up with though!!
Griffin, I’m truly inspired by this project! Even in highlighting these “ordinary” elevations, I think you are accomplishing exactly what you discussed in your article. You’re putting these “Kingdom breakthrough” moments in the forefront of the minds of your readers, and hopefully motivating people to altruistic action that will display God to a broken world. Even if they feel guilty that they don’t want to mimic these stories, it might at least cause them to look at themselves and wonder why (some self-introspection).
I also thought the “scarcity mindset” connection was intriguing. It’s wild to me that people can feel this way, because it points to how self-perceived “abundance” is so multi-faceted. And I loved that you pointed out how people often feel more fulfilled when helping others than when investing in care only for themselves. I think this should be emphasized more in our society! 😊 Great article!!
Thanks so much Lindsey I’m so happy you liked it!! Feel free to send me an ordinary elevation story if you have any!!
This is a great piece, with so many wonderful details to reflect on. I do wonder about this, though: "But conversely, it also explains why we don’t like these stories." While anti-hero stories are undeniably popular (and your explanation for their appeal is compelling), there are also hugely popular collections of uplifting stories that people seem to love—like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
P.S. The recent book by happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey (Build the Life You Want) has a whole chapter on the importance of spirituality/religion to lasting happiness (Brooks, interestingly, says his Catholic faith is the most important part of his life). The book emphasizes an other-centric view as key to happiness: "The focus of a faith or spiritual practice must not be primarily an inner one. The benefit to ourselves is immense, but the motive must be a search for truth and the love of others" (192); "you get the personal benefit when that benefit is not the goal" (190).
Wow I love that! Thanks for sharing! Might use that bit for the next post!
I saw title and hoped it was about the U2 song. There's power in that song, too. 😂
Loved the whole post. Can't wait for the Remarkable Ordinary.
"In fact, scientists who’ve analyzed thousands of narrative arcs boil down their pattern to that single word: comeuppance (i.e., when justice is served). Basically, this moral radar is so hardwired into us that we feel gipped if our plots don’t set wrong things right."
What got my attention here was a study that demonstrated how different cultures respond to equality. The experiment went something like this: give Person A 100 dollars, and tell them they may split the amount in any fashion with Person B. Person B then can either accept the split, or say "No." If they say "No," neither person gets any money.
In some cultures, if Person A were to offer, say, a 70-30 split, Person B would accept because, "Either I get $30, or I get nothing. Seems like an easy choice to me." Whereas in other cultures (wealthier ones, if I recall rightly) anything less than a 50-50 split evokes a sense of injustice and Person B rejects the deal. "I'd rather have nothing than settle for less than equal."
All of this to say, I think you're right that "comeuppance" is hardwired into us, but the specific expression or meaning of that idea is at least in part culturally determined.
Interesting comment, Stanton! And, leaning toward the "nature" side, there was that famous experiment years ago by Frans de Waal with the capuchin monkeys who got angry when they found others were given better pay for the same work (https://www.nature.com/articles/nature01963).
I recall this one as well! Fairness is something I think baked into us from our beginning.
Great stuff! I’ve never heard of that study but that’s so fascinating
I believe the experiment is called the "ultimatum game." I don't remember where I first heard it, but I think the conclusion at the bottom of this paper talks about my point: https://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~henrich/Website/Papers/ult.pdf
This has some beautiful resonance with Makoto Fujimura’s book Culture Care. As he works to define beauty, he draws a connection between beauty and justice, which I think is amplified and clarified by your writing here today about moral beauty and shalom.
There’s a lot more to his book, and it’s well worth a read, but this coincided nicely with a conversation I just had with my artist friends about beauty/justice/shalom. So good!
Sounds wonderful! I’ve read Art + Faith by him but not Culture Care. I’ll definitely check it out thanks so much!
I find myself referencing it surprisingly often! And Art and Faith is high on my to-read list.
Incredible thoughts here. Challenging and encouraging. I also loved how you put it simply "kindness is hot" lol
Hahaha thanks man!!
It's so accurate, though! I even noticed myself be more drawn to my own husband after witnessing him help someone in dire need in our church congregation. So it's hot even after you're married. ;)
Hahahhaha so true 😂
Great post with lots to explore here. Love the idea of highlighting the ordinary.
Thanks so much Jake!!