Four Upbuilding Discourses (1844)
Four Upbuilding Discourses220
1844
Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard
FORMERLY A CLOTHING MERCHANT HERE IN THE CITY
MY FATHER
THESE DISCOURSES ARE DEDICATED
PREFACE 221 [V 79]
Although this little book (which is called “discourses,” not sermons, because its author does not have authority to preach, “upbuilding” discourses, not discourses for upbuilding, because the speaker by no means claims to be a teacher) is once again going out into the world, it is even less fearful of drawing any impeding attention to itself than it was the first time it started on the journey; it hopes rather that because of the repetition the passersby will scarcely notice it, or if at all only to let it shift for itself. Just as a messenger now and then goes his routine way at set times and soon is a familiar sight, so familiar that the passerby scarcely sees him, does not turn to look after him—in the same way this little book goes out like a messenger, but not like a messenger who comes back again. It seeks that single individual whom I with joy and gratitude call my reader, in order to pay him a visit, indeed, to stay with him, because one goes to the person one loves, makes one’s home with him,222 and remains with him if this is allowed. That is, as soon as he has received it, then it has ceased to be; it is nothing for itself and by itself, but all that it is, it is only for him and by him. And although the trail always leads ahead to my reader, not back, and although the previous messenger never returns home,223 and although the one who sends him never discovers anything about his fate, the next messenger nevertheless goes intrepidly through death to life, cheerfully goes its way in order to disappear, happy never to return home again—and this is precisely 224the joy of him who sends it, who continually comes to his reader only to bid him farewell, and now bids him farewell for the last time.225
Copenhagen, August 9, 1844226
S. K.