Last night as I was reading Till We Have Faces, I ran across an interesting passage in Chapter 13.
By this time, Orual has returned back to Glome and has described her experience to both Bardia and to the Fox. They both give her different opinions on what she should do concerning Psyche. Orual cannot choose between them and then decides to pray to the gods.
"Then I did a thing which I think few have done. I spoke to the gods myself, alone, in such words as came to me, not in a temple, and without a sacrifice. I stretched myself face downward on the floor and called upon them with my whole heart. I took back every word I had said against them. I promised anything they might ask of me, if only they would send me a sign. They gave me none."
I find it hard to imagine what life would be like if I could not speak to my God whenever I chose to do so. There were so many rules and regulations about religion concerning sacrifices, temple worship, priests mediating and so on that it is no wonder that not many people formed a stronger and more personal bond with their gods.
Another thing that struck me about this passage is immediate gratification. Orual wants the gods to send her a sign immediately and is sorely disappointed that they do not. I remember when I was younger, asking God to 'send a sign' and then being disappointed when nothing would happen. Orual's faith is much like a child's in the way that she wants immediate results.
By this time, Orual has returned back to Glome and has described her experience to both Bardia and to the Fox. They both give her different opinions on what she should do concerning Psyche. Orual cannot choose between them and then decides to pray to the gods.
"Then I did a thing which I think few have done. I spoke to the gods myself, alone, in such words as came to me, not in a temple, and without a sacrifice. I stretched myself face downward on the floor and called upon them with my whole heart. I took back every word I had said against them. I promised anything they might ask of me, if only they would send me a sign. They gave me none."
I find it hard to imagine what life would be like if I could not speak to my God whenever I chose to do so. There were so many rules and regulations about religion concerning sacrifices, temple worship, priests mediating and so on that it is no wonder that not many people formed a stronger and more personal bond with their gods.
Another thing that struck me about this passage is immediate gratification. Orual wants the gods to send her a sign immediately and is sorely disappointed that they do not. I remember when I was younger, asking God to 'send a sign' and then being disappointed when nothing would happen. Orual's faith is much like a child's in the way that she wants immediate results.
posted by Gena at 10:24 PM
2 Comments:
It's interesting that Orual tries to bribe the gods into answering her when she is talking to them alone. She tries to promise to give them anything they want if they will only answer her. I can't help but notice that people still do that today with God. "God, if you'll just cure so and so of cancer, I promise I'll go to church every Sunday." But we have nothing that God would want--except our love and worship--freely given--so offering Him these things is senseless.
Orual seems to want to do the right thing, but it could be that her disbelief and her selfishness blinded her to the gods' answers, making her think that they didn't answer. That's just the way I see it. I'd love to see what someone else has to say about his.
Gena,
It is really nice to know that as Christians we can talk to God anytime we want to. Sometimes though the rules and regulations of a faith are admirable and more so the people who keep them. One of the things that has always astounded me about the Islamic faith is the extreme dedication it requires. Whether it be the five daily prayer times or the month of religious fasting (Ramadan), the regulations of their faith are astounding. Sometimes I wonder if these principles were also a part of Christianity what impact they would make my relationship with God closer or even different in any way.
Emily,
I agree with you that Orual's selfishness drives this cry out to the gods. Orual seems to be the kind of character that even if the gods sent her a sign, she would still miss it. And didn’t they really already send her a sign? I would consider the brief image she gets while staring into the mist a pretty good sign. Isn’t it also possible that signs can come before your questioning and that all you have to do is think back and remember them?
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