I've mentioned before a book called "The Spirituality of Imperfection" (I think Boziefozie said it was one of her favorites) Anyway, I was dipping into it, in between a novel on Cleopatra (a few naughty bits there, especially when Mark Anthony enters her boudoir) and a biography of Bob Dylan, and a bit of hoovering at the command of She Who Must be Obeyed.
It mentioned a guy called Farber, a Psychoanalyst, who mused that our
will operates in two distinct realms. The realm of
objects and the realm of
directions/goals.
Objects, or specific entities, we are can directly choose. But goals cannot be directly chosen, and in fact can even be distorted - even destroyed - by overt attempts to control them.
Some examples are given.....
We can directly will.........
knowledge. But not wisdom.
pleasure. But not happiness.
congratulations. But not admiration.
reading/listening. But not understanding.
meekness. But not humility.
going to bed. But not sleeping (!!)
This confusion of objects with goals/directions can lead to anxiety, and is doomed to failure......"The harder I try to fall asleep, the wider awake I get." "The harder I try to make myself happy, the more miserable I am."
Just so, a certain book tells us that we are to love God and neighbour. But it would seem, at least to Mr Farber, that love cannot be commanded.
Anyhow, now that it looks highly likely that the end of the world has not struck - despite the Bible's offering of proof that "cannot be dismissed" - perhaps there could be a discussion concerning all this.
Or perhaps not.