I’ll say God seems to have a kind of laid-back management style I’m not crazy about. I’m pretty much anti-death. God looks by all accounts to be pro-death. I’m not seeing how we can get together on this issue, he and I.
― David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest
Notes:
- Quote: Thank you The Vale of Soul-Making
- photo:”don’t look back” by margherita loba via Sensual Starfish

Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
I can’t see it either …… Sadness!!
Thank you, David … for this simple yet deep message! From the heart …. <3
Thank you Horty. Horrible. All of it.
Yes, David … beyond horrible. Club located less than 30 mins from my home.
Wow. Too close to home in so many ways.
Great line and I happen to agree with you and DFW. I’m actually reading Infinite Jest right now. DFW was a literary genius that left us far too early…
So true Joe. Unbelievable writer and left far too soon….agree.
Amen.
there is no gray area here.
No. Black and white.
I felt such a horrified helplessness, when we saw the news here. Now, I’m very sad and I just can’t understand this at all. I’m praying for all the victims and their beloved ones.
“Death is big. We are his laughing mouths. / When we think ourselves in the middle of life / he dares to cry / in the middle of us.” Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926).
What a quote Christine. Big Quote. Thanks for sharing. Horrified helplessness, is well stated.
So tragic, I can’t find to express my feelings, wonderful quote, Thank you dear David, Love, nia
Yes Nia. Me too… Thanks.
One day at a time. Together we can heal.
That’s all we have. That’s all there is.
I’m thinking he and the Almighty did get together on it back in 2008.
I know that sounds crass.
Prayers offered for Orlando. Who can know the ways of God?
And that is THE question!
I posted the quote to FB with a dfferent pic. There were some interesting comments, including one from a girl I just broke up with who thought I was about to off myself. Of interest is this, from my friend Terry:
“Don’t lay so much on Him … He is a loving God. Sometimes bad things happen, there’s reasons for it in it’s own time. But make no mistake, it’s allowed, not decided. To think elsewise is to believe something is bigger than God … or whatever you want to call Him.”
and this from my friend Diana, a cancer survivor:
“I think we are born dying so live life to its fullest. I, personally, have had a few close calls to death….I want to live. God, whatever you call the supreme being, has let me down lot’s of times but hey, I’m still here and kicking and surviving…So I talked to the Man pretty much everyday…or cursing him, whichever the case may be, I believe in Angels too and have a few looking after me. Peace Out!”
And my reply to both of them (sorry to take up so much of your comment section):
“David Foster Wallace was a brilliant writer and a troubled soul who committed suicide in 2008.
I’d seen this matched up with Orlando on a blog. It made me think of a lot of things.
It made me think of the story of Job.
It made me think of the scene in Pulp Fiction where Jules and Vincent survive a spray of bullets and Jules calls it a miracle.
And it made me think of all the things God has allowed man to do in order to prolong and improve life, like Diana’s cancer treatments, and possible common sense gun legislation.
God seldom steps in and stops bullets. We cant blame him for that. But he gives us the good sense to do something about it ourselves in time.
Or maybe I’m reading too much into it.”
I’ll probably take all this to the blog at some point. Thanks for being here, David.
Stephen, I awarded you with the run away Comment of the Day. Thank you for taking the time to share. Thought provoking. Wonderful.
Thats a great honor for both of us. I managed to work in a pic and quote from Jules from Pulp Fiction in my post. What fun! Thanks David!
So what if there is no God? We’re just on our own….
In it neck deep, we need help! 😃