I've decided it would be healthy for me to maintian my blog....so I will!! I forgot how much I enjoy blogging as an excercise to articulate my thoughts or just to let people know whats goin' on with me!
To the world of blogging without end! Amen.
Also, you can see me on mere orthodoxy! I've recently become an "intern" for them.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Monarchy vs. Democracy
“Lordship for many is no good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king…”
Iliad ~ Homer
Book II line 204-05
Until recently, democracy and monarchy have been nothing more than terms for good and bad government. Living in a democracy, I typically only hear of the evils of monarchy….but I wonder if there isn’t something good in monarchy that we miss in an overwhelmingly democratic world.
The stories (fairy tales and history) are all too fresh in my mind of the evil king or queen who tortured their people and forced unbearable living conditions upon them while they sat in their cushioned seats clothed in the most expensive material. Then characters such as Robin Hood, come on the scene and begin to help the poor by stealing from the rich and rallying together the people from the surrounding villages to fight back. However, it is interesting that they are not looking to replace the form of government…rather the person in power. Replace the evil king with a good king.
It seems a little risky on the part of Robin Hood (and people like him)….didn’t it cross their minds that such absolute power would more than likely corrupt whoever attains/receives it? What good was there to be had in monarchy that made it worth the risk?
Here’s what I have come up with so far….monarchy tends to work in extremes. It either produces such evil as can be imagined or it produces a utopia that a democracy could never possibly attain. Where democracy plays it safe by distributing power among all the people, monarchy says, “A virtuous man who rules righteously will bring about perfect peace in a kingdom….however, an evil and corrupt man will produce atrocities that were before unthinkable.” Confusion and frustration seem to preside over a democratic government…but it is exactly those two states of being which prohibit such evils as Auschwitz from becoming a reality. At the same time, they also prohibit peace and prosperity as was found during the reign of King Oswald (700 A.D.) and Richard the Lion Heart.
I’m not sure if reinstating a monarchy would be the best thing to do at this point in time in history. I know England still prides themselves on maintaining one…but even then the country is mostly run by the Prime Minister and a Parliament. It would be too much of a shock (especially for America) to demolish democracy and replace it with a monarchy. The very reason the pilgrims left England was to escape the government (and I think some of those hard feelings still linger among the American culture).
Is Homer right then? For the Kingdom of Christ which is to come…yes! However, until that time I think a democratic society is ultimately the safer and more effective way by which people ought to be governed.
Iliad ~ Homer
Book II line 204-05
Until recently, democracy and monarchy have been nothing more than terms for good and bad government. Living in a democracy, I typically only hear of the evils of monarchy….but I wonder if there isn’t something good in monarchy that we miss in an overwhelmingly democratic world.
The stories (fairy tales and history) are all too fresh in my mind of the evil king or queen who tortured their people and forced unbearable living conditions upon them while they sat in their cushioned seats clothed in the most expensive material. Then characters such as Robin Hood, come on the scene and begin to help the poor by stealing from the rich and rallying together the people from the surrounding villages to fight back. However, it is interesting that they are not looking to replace the form of government…rather the person in power. Replace the evil king with a good king.
It seems a little risky on the part of Robin Hood (and people like him)….didn’t it cross their minds that such absolute power would more than likely corrupt whoever attains/receives it? What good was there to be had in monarchy that made it worth the risk?
Here’s what I have come up with so far….monarchy tends to work in extremes. It either produces such evil as can be imagined or it produces a utopia that a democracy could never possibly attain. Where democracy plays it safe by distributing power among all the people, monarchy says, “A virtuous man who rules righteously will bring about perfect peace in a kingdom….however, an evil and corrupt man will produce atrocities that were before unthinkable.” Confusion and frustration seem to preside over a democratic government…but it is exactly those two states of being which prohibit such evils as Auschwitz from becoming a reality. At the same time, they also prohibit peace and prosperity as was found during the reign of King Oswald (700 A.D.) and Richard the Lion Heart.
I’m not sure if reinstating a monarchy would be the best thing to do at this point in time in history. I know England still prides themselves on maintaining one…but even then the country is mostly run by the Prime Minister and a Parliament. It would be too much of a shock (especially for America) to demolish democracy and replace it with a monarchy. The very reason the pilgrims left England was to escape the government (and I think some of those hard feelings still linger among the American culture).
Is Homer right then? For the Kingdom of Christ which is to come…yes! However, until that time I think a democratic society is ultimately the safer and more effective way by which people ought to be governed.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Haiku
I've rediscovered a form of poetry that I enjoy writing! They are fairly simple...but I needed something to get me started. So here are few of them I have written (they are meant to be read on their own)!
Music sweet as love
Dominates the mind and soul
Makes beauty for ears.
Incarnate the sound
As waves twirl in the deep sea
Forever unbound.
A squirell at the door
Scratches and sniffs the pavement
Then leaves in a flash.
Music sweet as love
Dominates the mind and soul
Makes beauty for ears.
Incarnate the sound
As waves twirl in the deep sea
Forever unbound.
A squirell at the door
Scratches and sniffs the pavement
Then leaves in a flash.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Tag!
Apparently the game "Tag" is not physically confined to the playground...it has been carried over into the blogosphere! Over at the blog of Emily Ask, I have been recently tagged....and now I must list seven things that perhaps my readers do not know about me.
Where to begin....
1. I have hiked over seventy miles through the sierras and climbed Mt. Whitney all in one week.
2. I am an Eagle Scout
3. I like coffee more than tea (although earl grey and the english breakfast tea make for a good alternative sometimes)
4. I have already been sunburned THREE times this summer! (time to pull out the sunscreen!)
5. I love to read books, however, I often find myself torn between several books at a time because I want to read them all.
6. I lead worship for the high school group at my church a couple times a month.
7. And last but not least, I am far to competitive for my own good!
Where to begin....
1. I have hiked over seventy miles through the sierras and climbed Mt. Whitney all in one week.
2. I am an Eagle Scout
3. I like coffee more than tea (although earl grey and the english breakfast tea make for a good alternative sometimes)
4. I have already been sunburned THREE times this summer! (time to pull out the sunscreen!)
5. I love to read books, however, I often find myself torn between several books at a time because I want to read them all.
6. I lead worship for the high school group at my church a couple times a month.
7. And last but not least, I am far to competitive for my own good!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
The progression of life: Assimilating into the grown-up world
UGH! I am so behind in writing blogs and reading them! My most sincere apologies go out to those who continue to check my blog for new posts and are continually let down! It is amazing how one week of holiday will throw you off!
However, let not my absence make you think that my mind has been idle...far from it! I have been thinking about a lot of things lately and thought I would point out one observation that has been affecting me personally. That is (and everybody 18 and older can relate) growing up.
It is odd, as an 18 year old, to be working part time for the city with MEN who are old enough to be my father and yet treat me as a fellow employee. Up until now, men who worked full time always seemed so much more mature and "adult" like; people who I depend on but not relate too. Now I am making my way into the ranks of such men and soon little kids will be looking to me in the same way!!
I have, for most of my life, been one who resonates most deeply with Peter Pan. Growing up was never a reality that I looked forward too. I remember times as a little kid, having meltdowns about the over looming fact of having to grow up someday. It was a most frightful thought. However, as I continue into adulthood, I find that God truly is merciful. He allows for a time of adjustment as well as loving parents who help me out along the way. I think he knew that if the change was going to be abrupt I would die!
I am also finding that a proper understanding of one's identity is very important during this time of assimilation. However, I will save that topic for another post!
Perhaps my readers (assuming I still have some!) have more insight into the whole growing up process?
However, let not my absence make you think that my mind has been idle...far from it! I have been thinking about a lot of things lately and thought I would point out one observation that has been affecting me personally. That is (and everybody 18 and older can relate) growing up.
It is odd, as an 18 year old, to be working part time for the city with MEN who are old enough to be my father and yet treat me as a fellow employee. Up until now, men who worked full time always seemed so much more mature and "adult" like; people who I depend on but not relate too. Now I am making my way into the ranks of such men and soon little kids will be looking to me in the same way!!
I have, for most of my life, been one who resonates most deeply with Peter Pan. Growing up was never a reality that I looked forward too. I remember times as a little kid, having meltdowns about the over looming fact of having to grow up someday. It was a most frightful thought. However, as I continue into adulthood, I find that God truly is merciful. He allows for a time of adjustment as well as loving parents who help me out along the way. I think he knew that if the change was going to be abrupt I would die!
I am also finding that a proper understanding of one's identity is very important during this time of assimilation. However, I will save that topic for another post!
Perhaps my readers (assuming I still have some!) have more insight into the whole growing up process?
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Dr. JP Moreland has recently written a new book called The Kingdom Triangle. I have not read it yet but I have heard some very good reviews since its release. Here is a link to Dr. J.P. Moreland giving a sermon at his church, talking about his new book. Dr. Moreland himself calls it, "the most important book I have ever written." He presents some seemingly practical and yet very difficult ideas. After hearing his sermon, I am even more eager to read it for myself!
For a more in depth review check out this blog.
For a more in depth review check out this blog.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Music and Me Part II
To conclude this mini two part series, I thought I would share some of what I have learned from not listening to music.
At work, I work alone. As far as I can tell, nobody supervises me (except for when they come to check my work when I am not there) and therefore have quite a lot of time to myself. A couple of months ago, when I first heard about what my job would entail, I immediately thanked God for the invention of the Ipod! The first couple of weeks I did the cool teenage thing....I stuck headphones in my ears and listened to music throughout the work day. However, I soon became bored with the same ol' tunes over and over again and thought, "Certainly, I would benefit from books on tape!" And so I did. I listened to Paradise Lost, The Hobbit, Shakespeare, Of Mice and Men etc.
However, during this time, I had been talking with some friends about some of the trends of our culture; one of them was how we seclude ourselves from reality and from other people through recent technology. This of course brought up Ipods and the constant distraction they offer from ourselves and from other people. The observation finally hit home that day I was in the book store and the kid in front of me never removed his headphones as he paid for his item.
The next day at work I decided to leave the ipod in the car and venture to hang out with God and myself.
I suddenly became aware (in the strictest since of the word) of my thoughts and how they roam. They roamed not only amongst themselves but through my emotions and feelings untamed. I could not maintain any continuous thought pattern much less pray. It felt as if I were following a toddler around telling him, "don't touch that!" or "put that down!" My sanity seemed to be fleeting as I desperately tried to maintain control! What appeared to be my identity became more and more ambiguous.
Of course, it was during this time that I asked myself, "Why?" Why should I continue to put myself through this? Isn't music a good thing? Why should I deprive myself of it?
To start with the second question; music is a good thing. It is so good in fact that even Plato considered it to be one of the highest forms of art. When somebody plays a piano piece, they must pour into it their knowledge of theory as well as their passions/emotions. Their head (the knowledge) must be just as proactive in the process of creating the music as their heart (the passions). The result is a manifestation of some of the deepest human experiences one can offer. In so doing, music does affect/influence its listener in some way or another. However, music has turned into such an outlet for emotion that artists no longer have to know the structure of scales and chord patterns but merely need to have strong emotions. Because of this, music that is creative and requires both thought and feeling has been diminishing. It is by no means extinct but stereotypically one mostly meets elderly people at the community opera house. To allow music only to affect your emotions is BAD, because a lot of music has bad emotions! Thus to only allow music entrance into your emotions, can result in a fake perception of the song itself and reality (i.e. Love).
On the other hand (the hand I tend to be guilty of), is to over analyze the music to the point that it has no affect on your emotions at all. Suddenly it becomes a thought project instead of an experience. Certainly I am keeping myself safe from the pitfalls of being overly emotional but now it has become detrimental. I become entirely separate from the music itself and I am incapable of experiencing the part of reality the composer is relaying. Although I may understand the mechanics of the music and perhaps the message the music is relaying; I cannot come to understand it holistically. What do I mean by that? Well, for example; there is a difference between understanding who a person is on paper (i.e. eye color, hair color, likes and dislikes etc.) and knowing the person. There is a distinct personality within each person that cannot be extracted through the analysis of their chemical make up. In the same way, music cannot be known solely through intellectual endeavors but also through experience of the music itself.
Whew! Glad I got that off my chest! However, you might be wondering what this has to do with refusing to listen to music for the past month or so. And rightly do you wonder! My answer is this; that through the constant noise we surround ourselves we become too much head or heart. We are so fragmented, that when we are finally forced to put together both our intellect and our passions it appears to be nearly impossible. However, if we continue to live as if we were one or the other the manifestation (our hands) results in an unprofitable and dissatisfying life.
At work, I work alone. As far as I can tell, nobody supervises me (except for when they come to check my work when I am not there) and therefore have quite a lot of time to myself. A couple of months ago, when I first heard about what my job would entail, I immediately thanked God for the invention of the Ipod! The first couple of weeks I did the cool teenage thing....I stuck headphones in my ears and listened to music throughout the work day. However, I soon became bored with the same ol' tunes over and over again and thought, "Certainly, I would benefit from books on tape!" And so I did. I listened to Paradise Lost, The Hobbit, Shakespeare, Of Mice and Men etc.
However, during this time, I had been talking with some friends about some of the trends of our culture; one of them was how we seclude ourselves from reality and from other people through recent technology. This of course brought up Ipods and the constant distraction they offer from ourselves and from other people. The observation finally hit home that day I was in the book store and the kid in front of me never removed his headphones as he paid for his item.
The next day at work I decided to leave the ipod in the car and venture to hang out with God and myself.
I suddenly became aware (in the strictest since of the word) of my thoughts and how they roam. They roamed not only amongst themselves but through my emotions and feelings untamed. I could not maintain any continuous thought pattern much less pray. It felt as if I were following a toddler around telling him, "don't touch that!" or "put that down!" My sanity seemed to be fleeting as I desperately tried to maintain control! What appeared to be my identity became more and more ambiguous.
Of course, it was during this time that I asked myself, "Why?" Why should I continue to put myself through this? Isn't music a good thing? Why should I deprive myself of it?
To start with the second question; music is a good thing. It is so good in fact that even Plato considered it to be one of the highest forms of art. When somebody plays a piano piece, they must pour into it their knowledge of theory as well as their passions/emotions. Their head (the knowledge) must be just as proactive in the process of creating the music as their heart (the passions). The result is a manifestation of some of the deepest human experiences one can offer. In so doing, music does affect/influence its listener in some way or another. However, music has turned into such an outlet for emotion that artists no longer have to know the structure of scales and chord patterns but merely need to have strong emotions. Because of this, music that is creative and requires both thought and feeling has been diminishing. It is by no means extinct but stereotypically one mostly meets elderly people at the community opera house. To allow music only to affect your emotions is BAD, because a lot of music has bad emotions! Thus to only allow music entrance into your emotions, can result in a fake perception of the song itself and reality (i.e. Love).
On the other hand (the hand I tend to be guilty of), is to over analyze the music to the point that it has no affect on your emotions at all. Suddenly it becomes a thought project instead of an experience. Certainly I am keeping myself safe from the pitfalls of being overly emotional but now it has become detrimental. I become entirely separate from the music itself and I am incapable of experiencing the part of reality the composer is relaying. Although I may understand the mechanics of the music and perhaps the message the music is relaying; I cannot come to understand it holistically. What do I mean by that? Well, for example; there is a difference between understanding who a person is on paper (i.e. eye color, hair color, likes and dislikes etc.) and knowing the person. There is a distinct personality within each person that cannot be extracted through the analysis of their chemical make up. In the same way, music cannot be known solely through intellectual endeavors but also through experience of the music itself.
Whew! Glad I got that off my chest! However, you might be wondering what this has to do with refusing to listen to music for the past month or so. And rightly do you wonder! My answer is this; that through the constant noise we surround ourselves we become too much head or heart. We are so fragmented, that when we are finally forced to put together both our intellect and our passions it appears to be nearly impossible. However, if we continue to live as if we were one or the other the manifestation (our hands) results in an unprofitable and dissatisfying life.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
For those who can't wait!!
Update:
Spiderman 3 is coming out next Friday! (not Saturday)
I have some pretty high expectations for this third installment of Spiderman. I must confess however, that I was not entirely thrilled with the first two movies.... but they seem to be getting progressively better. I am hoping this trend will continue. And from some of the trailers I've seen, it promises to be a good one!! Check out this exclusive trailer and let me know what you think!
Spiderman 3 is coming out next Friday! (not Saturday)
I have some pretty high expectations for this third installment of Spiderman. I must confess however, that I was not entirely thrilled with the first two movies.... but they seem to be getting progressively better. I am hoping this trend will continue. And from some of the trailers I've seen, it promises to be a good one!! Check out this exclusive trailer and let me know what you think!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Music and Me Part I
Just the other day while I was on campus, a friend of mine was going to be playing a couple piano pieces for a music class and asked if I wanted to come. Being a big fan of music (especially classical) I couldn't refuse.
Music is a funny thing. The effects of music on my emotions and often times on my thoughts can sometimes be very subtle or outright grueling! I will attempt to describe some of the experiences I had that day.
As she played through her first piece by Chopin, I felt as if I were in a fairy world. Not a cheesy fairy world that inevitably pops up into every ones mind when the word is mentioned, but a far more interesting world. In fact, I think that "interesting" is the only word which describes the experience. It didn't seem to be good or bad....just interesting. Much like the fairy world George MacDonald talks about in "Phantastes" (although not quite so dark).
This all changed as soon as she began her Rachmaninoff piece. The disturbance of Rachmaninoff's soul translated so tangibly through his music it even makes the listener begin to feel his anger and strife. It felt as if my insides were being torn to shreds! I wanted to stand up and shout and run around like a mad man! This of course was a good feeling because it meant that she was playing the song well....weird, but true! :~)
And then finally there was Bach. The man who was forced to play by all the rules. When I listen to Bach, I often feel as though I should be sitting up straight and controlling my breaths for fear of being heard. It is like the feeling one reads in stories about school children who attended the old boarding schools. They have to wear the stiff collars, itchy jackets and uncomfortable trousers while sitting up straight in a hard back chair for hours on end. This is not to say that all of Bach's pieces are so hard to listen too (i.e. Jesu, Joy of a Man's Desire) but the majority does tend to be difficult at times.
This analysis seems to beg the question, "what then is the importance of music and should it be taken lightly?". As of late, I have literally gone on a fast from music. I have not been listening to it while in the car or on my ipod while doing school. Everywhere I look people have headphones in their ears. And it has begun to annoy me!! For example, one day while at school I was in the book store waiting to pay for some scantron forms. The person in front of me had his head phones in and was pretty much dead to the world. I began to watch him as we came closer to the front of the line and wondered if he would take them off. Although I was not surprised, but still just as shocked, he went through the whole purchasing process with his head phones in; never making eye contact with the cashier! Needless to say I was terribly annoyed and was tempted to reach out and pluck the head phones from his ears. (fear not, I was able to restrain myself!)
Music appears to have become such a noise maker for our society that I wonder if we have forgotten what it sounds like. Much less forgotten how to listen to it.
Thus, partly out of spite and partly because I want to relearn how to listen to music, I have been taking a fast from it. And until you actually try it, you won't realize how hard that is! I find myself suffering from withdrawals as I itch so habitually to turn on a CD and make some noise in order to distract myself from myself.
"Distracted from distraction by distraction" ~T.S. Eliot
(That still doesn't make sense, but it sounded like it fit! :~)
What I have learned from this I will explain in the next part of this two part series.
Music is a funny thing. The effects of music on my emotions and often times on my thoughts can sometimes be very subtle or outright grueling! I will attempt to describe some of the experiences I had that day.
As she played through her first piece by Chopin, I felt as if I were in a fairy world. Not a cheesy fairy world that inevitably pops up into every ones mind when the word is mentioned, but a far more interesting world. In fact, I think that "interesting" is the only word which describes the experience. It didn't seem to be good or bad....just interesting. Much like the fairy world George MacDonald talks about in "Phantastes" (although not quite so dark).
This all changed as soon as she began her Rachmaninoff piece. The disturbance of Rachmaninoff's soul translated so tangibly through his music it even makes the listener begin to feel his anger and strife. It felt as if my insides were being torn to shreds! I wanted to stand up and shout and run around like a mad man! This of course was a good feeling because it meant that she was playing the song well....weird, but true! :~)
And then finally there was Bach. The man who was forced to play by all the rules. When I listen to Bach, I often feel as though I should be sitting up straight and controlling my breaths for fear of being heard. It is like the feeling one reads in stories about school children who attended the old boarding schools. They have to wear the stiff collars, itchy jackets and uncomfortable trousers while sitting up straight in a hard back chair for hours on end. This is not to say that all of Bach's pieces are so hard to listen too (i.e. Jesu, Joy of a Man's Desire) but the majority does tend to be difficult at times.
This analysis seems to beg the question, "what then is the importance of music and should it be taken lightly?". As of late, I have literally gone on a fast from music. I have not been listening to it while in the car or on my ipod while doing school. Everywhere I look people have headphones in their ears. And it has begun to annoy me!! For example, one day while at school I was in the book store waiting to pay for some scantron forms. The person in front of me had his head phones in and was pretty much dead to the world. I began to watch him as we came closer to the front of the line and wondered if he would take them off. Although I was not surprised, but still just as shocked, he went through the whole purchasing process with his head phones in; never making eye contact with the cashier! Needless to say I was terribly annoyed and was tempted to reach out and pluck the head phones from his ears. (fear not, I was able to restrain myself!)
Music appears to have become such a noise maker for our society that I wonder if we have forgotten what it sounds like. Much less forgotten how to listen to it.
Thus, partly out of spite and partly because I want to relearn how to listen to music, I have been taking a fast from it. And until you actually try it, you won't realize how hard that is! I find myself suffering from withdrawals as I itch so habitually to turn on a CD and make some noise in order to distract myself from myself.
"Distracted from distraction by distraction" ~T.S. Eliot
(That still doesn't make sense, but it sounded like it fit! :~)
What I have learned from this I will explain in the next part of this two part series.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
First of Many
Update:
I am offically putting up my first post from my new laptop! It came in the mail the other day while I was at school! Needless to say I was excited to get home and play with it. It is the perfect size and weight for when I am carrying it around school! And what is even better...my neighbor was able to load up Microsoft word and Excel so I do not have to use Microsoft works!
....now if only I could figure out how to use the new Windows Vista!!
I am offically putting up my first post from my new laptop! It came in the mail the other day while I was at school! Needless to say I was excited to get home and play with it. It is the perfect size and weight for when I am carrying it around school! And what is even better...my neighbor was able to load up Microsoft word and Excel so I do not have to use Microsoft works!
....now if only I could figure out how to use the new Windows Vista!!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Bomb Drop!
Last night I went to spanish class feeling fine...and perhaps a little excited about going. However, that was not the case as I was heading for the parking lot on my way out!!
My teacher had mentioned earlier this semester that there was going to be an oral exam..she even put it in the syllabus (which is saying a lot compared to my other teachers!). I wasn't so appalled at the idea.... because I assumed I was allowed to read from a paper I would write.
Little did I know....
She decided to unveil all of the gory details that night! Caught off my guard, she said that the oral would be strictly an oral! There is no reading from a paper or even notes...she just wants us to get up in front of the class and ramble on about a subject concerning the spanish culture for 5 minutes!
ME! A gringo! She said she doesn't mind mistakes as long as we are up there for 5 minutes...my question is whether or not she minds a weird awkward silence for 5 minutes. :~)
Hopefully it won't be so bad....seeing as I have a wonderful friend who helps me in my time of need! The saviour for all gringos who dare to delve into the spanish language! And perhaps, once more she will save me from such a terrible predicament (possibly the worst yet!).
Gracias Señora Cuqui! Soy agradecido para su ayuda todos!
My teacher had mentioned earlier this semester that there was going to be an oral exam..she even put it in the syllabus (which is saying a lot compared to my other teachers!). I wasn't so appalled at the idea.... because I assumed I was allowed to read from a paper I would write.
Little did I know....
She decided to unveil all of the gory details that night! Caught off my guard, she said that the oral would be strictly an oral! There is no reading from a paper or even notes...she just wants us to get up in front of the class and ramble on about a subject concerning the spanish culture for 5 minutes!
ME! A gringo! She said she doesn't mind mistakes as long as we are up there for 5 minutes...my question is whether or not she minds a weird awkward silence for 5 minutes. :~)
Hopefully it won't be so bad....seeing as I have a wonderful friend who helps me in my time of need! The saviour for all gringos who dare to delve into the spanish language! And perhaps, once more she will save me from such a terrible predicament (possibly the worst yet!).
Gracias Señora Cuqui! Soy agradecido para su ayuda todos!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Finally!
I have finally ordered my first, very own computer!! It is a dell 1405 Lap top with an extra long battery upgrade!! To view the specifics click here. I can't wait to get my hands on it and organize it all! In fact, I might even organize myself.........or not (as if a new computer will improve my lack of time management!)
It is amazing how fast the money I saved for the computer left....immediately after I pushed the "buy" button I went to my bank account and saw that the transaction had happened automatically. It was a little scary to see how instantaneous it all happened. One minute I had the money, the next I did not!
Perhaps now that I am an official owner of a computer, I will be more motivated to blog *laughs to himself*!
It is amazing how fast the money I saved for the computer left....immediately after I pushed the "buy" button I went to my bank account and saw that the transaction had happened automatically. It was a little scary to see how instantaneous it all happened. One minute I had the money, the next I did not!
Perhaps now that I am an official owner of a computer, I will be more motivated to blog *laughs to himself*!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Update
I would like to take this time to apologize for not putting up any serious posts lately....blogging about real serious issues is a lot of work! However, I do feel an idea brewing that perhaps will one day make it to the blog! In the meantime, check out this blog about leading discussions.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Jack Bauer
Here are 26 reasons why Jack Bauer is so cool!!
1) If you wake up in the morning, it's because Jack Bauer spared your life.
2) Upon hearing that he was played by Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauerkilled Sutherland. Jack Bauer gets played by no man.
3) Jack Bauer's favorite color is severe terror alert red. His secondfavorite color is violet, but just because it sounds like violent.
4) Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent thenext half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of thekeys.
5) Jack Bauer got Helen Keller to talk.
6) Jack Bauer killed 93 people in just 4 days time. Wait, that is a real fact.
7) Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.
8) 1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.
9) Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.
10) Jack Bauer doesn't miss. If he didn't hit you it's because hewas shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.
11) Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are consciousright now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.
12) When you open a can of whoop ass, Jack Bauer jumps out.
13) If Jack says "I just want to talk to him" and that him is you…well amigo, you're screwed.
14) Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.
15) When life gave Jack Bauer lemons, he used them to kill terrorists.Jack Bauer hates lemonade.
16) In grade school, a little boy punched Kimberly Bauer, and Kimberlyran home to tell her dad. That little boy's name? Stephen Hawking.
17) Jack Bauer does not sleep. The only rest he needs is what he getswhen he's knocked out or temporarily killed.
18) No man has ever used the phrase, "Jack Bauer is a sissy" in asentence and lived to tell
19) In kindergarten, Jack Bauer killed a terrorist for Show and Tell.
20) Jack Bauer literally died for his country, and lived to tell about it.
21) As a child, Jack Bauer's first words were "There's no time!"
22) Jack Bauer's family threw him a surprise birthday party when hewas a child. Once.
23) Guns don't kill people, Jack Bauer kills people.
24) Everytime Jack Bauer yells "NOW!" at the end of a sentence, aterrorist dies.
25) If you send someone to kill Jack Bauer, the only thing youaccomplish is supplying him a fresh set of weapons to kill you with.
26) Jack Bauer could get off the Lost island in 24 hours.
(....I really should start watching this show!)
1) If you wake up in the morning, it's because Jack Bauer spared your life.
2) Upon hearing that he was played by Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauerkilled Sutherland. Jack Bauer gets played by no man.
3) Jack Bauer's favorite color is severe terror alert red. His secondfavorite color is violet, but just because it sounds like violent.
4) Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent thenext half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of thekeys.
5) Jack Bauer got Helen Keller to talk.
6) Jack Bauer killed 93 people in just 4 days time. Wait, that is a real fact.
7) Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.
8) 1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.
9) Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.
10) Jack Bauer doesn't miss. If he didn't hit you it's because hewas shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.
11) Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are consciousright now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.
12) When you open a can of whoop ass, Jack Bauer jumps out.
13) If Jack says "I just want to talk to him" and that him is you…well amigo, you're screwed.
14) Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.
15) When life gave Jack Bauer lemons, he used them to kill terrorists.Jack Bauer hates lemonade.
16) In grade school, a little boy punched Kimberly Bauer, and Kimberlyran home to tell her dad. That little boy's name? Stephen Hawking.
17) Jack Bauer does not sleep. The only rest he needs is what he getswhen he's knocked out or temporarily killed.
18) No man has ever used the phrase, "Jack Bauer is a sissy" in asentence and lived to tell
19) In kindergarten, Jack Bauer killed a terrorist for Show and Tell.
20) Jack Bauer literally died for his country, and lived to tell about it.
21) As a child, Jack Bauer's first words were "There's no time!"
22) Jack Bauer's family threw him a surprise birthday party when hewas a child. Once.
23) Guns don't kill people, Jack Bauer kills people.
24) Everytime Jack Bauer yells "NOW!" at the end of a sentence, aterrorist dies.
25) If you send someone to kill Jack Bauer, the only thing youaccomplish is supplying him a fresh set of weapons to kill you with.
26) Jack Bauer could get off the Lost island in 24 hours.
(....I really should start watching this show!)
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
CHEESE!!!
I've always had a profound respect for cheese....it is used in so many idioms of the english language! Not to mention it tastes sooooo good!! G.K. Chesterton seemed to think the same. You can read here, his complaint about the lack of cheese in poetry. Also there is a poem there dedicated to cheese!
Three cheers for CHEESE!!
Three cheers for CHEESE!!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Saturday, March 03, 2007
There's a first time for everything!
Unexpectedly tonight, I received a call from a friend asking if I wanted to go street witnessing with him and some other people. In order to buy some time, I said that I needed to ask my parents and would call him back. After I hung up the phone, I reflected on my initial impulse to say no.
What was so unnerving about talking to people about Jesus? I wasn't doing anything that night...yet I still remained very apprehensive. After deliberating with my dad, I decided that I ought to go. When I got there, the group of us talked for awhile and then we prayed before heading out. Honestly, I was more nervous than I had ever been. My legs were shaking, my tongue felt heavy (as if I wouldn't be able to talk) and I just wanted to go home.
I have been wrestling lately with my lack of desire to talk to non-Christians about the Gospel. Almost every epistle of Paul and John and Peter....all start out talking about the glory of the Gospel and how it compels them to spread the news. Where was that desire in me? And then I realized the problem.....the desire isn't in me! The desire comes from God! Instead of wondering if my Christianity was at stake for my lack of desire, I should instead raise my eye's, as Dante did, to the Divine Love which moves the sphere's! There is my desire and passion.... where all things hold together and Love is found in its perfection.
After that "zing!", I ended up talking to a guy who was from Mexico and considered himself Catholic....although not a practicing one. I won't go into every detail of the conversation (we talked for 20 minutes or so) but I will say it was a joy that I was happy to experience! And I am now wanting to share with others if only because when my eye's are raised to the Divine Love, I can do naught else but love other people!
What was so unnerving about talking to people about Jesus? I wasn't doing anything that night...yet I still remained very apprehensive. After deliberating with my dad, I decided that I ought to go. When I got there, the group of us talked for awhile and then we prayed before heading out. Honestly, I was more nervous than I had ever been. My legs were shaking, my tongue felt heavy (as if I wouldn't be able to talk) and I just wanted to go home.
I have been wrestling lately with my lack of desire to talk to non-Christians about the Gospel. Almost every epistle of Paul and John and Peter....all start out talking about the glory of the Gospel and how it compels them to spread the news. Where was that desire in me? And then I realized the problem.....the desire isn't in me! The desire comes from God! Instead of wondering if my Christianity was at stake for my lack of desire, I should instead raise my eye's, as Dante did, to the Divine Love which moves the sphere's! There is my desire and passion.... where all things hold together and Love is found in its perfection.
After that "zing!", I ended up talking to a guy who was from Mexico and considered himself Catholic....although not a practicing one. I won't go into every detail of the conversation (we talked for 20 minutes or so) but I will say it was a joy that I was happy to experience! And I am now wanting to share with others if only because when my eye's are raised to the Divine Love, I can do naught else but love other people!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Amazing Grace how sweet a movie!
Last night a bunch of my friends and I went to see the movie "Amazing Grace". It is a powerful story about William Wilberforce who abolished the slave trade in England during the 1750's. Initially going into the movie I had forgotten that Wilberforce is not the man who wrote the song "Amazing grace", therefore I was terribly confused for a good portion of the movie, but not at all detached from the story.
The character of Wilberforce is filled with integrity and courage....faith and love. He was a man who experienced many trials and let downs; yet persevered by the strength of God. The movie starts out showing a broken and sick man, worn down from his seemingly impossible work. And later displays a man of great victory! Not just outwardly but in his character as well.
It is so refreshing whenever a good Christian film is made. Too often, most Christian movies are either cheesy (due to a lack of budget), unserious or made with terrible actors. Thankfully this is not the case. It turns out that Wilberforce was friends with John Newton (the true writer of amazing grace) who helped thrust him into fighting the slave trade. There is an especially powerful scene towards the end when Newton is an old blind man and says, "Two things do I remember clearly; I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior!"
I highly recommend this movie to all who would go see it!
The character of Wilberforce is filled with integrity and courage....faith and love. He was a man who experienced many trials and let downs; yet persevered by the strength of God. The movie starts out showing a broken and sick man, worn down from his seemingly impossible work. And later displays a man of great victory! Not just outwardly but in his character as well.
It is so refreshing whenever a good Christian film is made. Too often, most Christian movies are either cheesy (due to a lack of budget), unserious or made with terrible actors. Thankfully this is not the case. It turns out that Wilberforce was friends with John Newton (the true writer of amazing grace) who helped thrust him into fighting the slave trade. There is an especially powerful scene towards the end when Newton is an old blind man and says, "Two things do I remember clearly; I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior!"
I highly recommend this movie to all who would go see it!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
In need of a good read?
If you happen to find yourself in need of a good read then I have the solution! :~) This is an essay by George MacDonald talking about the importance of Fairy Tales and the imagination.
If you read my paper, you'll see that I gleaned much of my information from this essay. It offers an interesting perspective about the power and purpose of a fairy tale. Enjoy!
If you read my paper, you'll see that I gleaned much of my information from this essay. It offers an interesting perspective about the power and purpose of a fairy tale. Enjoy!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Johnny Cash
Here's an intense music video, and I believe the last, by Johnny Cash I just recently happend upon. Let me know what you all think.
And BTW, I apologize for such a lack of blogging lately....I seem to go in phases. One week I am blogger savvy, and the next, contract some sort of illness that hinders all my blogging capabilities. Currently I am looking for a cure...if anyone so happens to have one, please let me know!!
And BTW, I apologize for such a lack of blogging lately....I seem to go in phases. One week I am blogger savvy, and the next, contract some sort of illness that hinders all my blogging capabilities. Currently I am looking for a cure...if anyone so happens to have one, please let me know!!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Life Lesson
As of the past couple of months, we have had the ping pong table up in our garage. During these intense finger nail biting, keeps you on the edge of your seat, matches, I have learned some life lessons!
Lesson 1: Always expect the unexpected.
Ping pong application: Beware of your hand eye coordination becoming temporarily impaired. Some of the best excuses that can be used are: "there is an odd glare on the table," "the lighting is to dim," "my eyes are fuzzy." (etc.)
Lesson 2: Always be relaxed. Tensing up or becoming frustrated only makes situations worse.
Ping pong application: While playing war pong don't tense up. Tensing up makes the pain of the ball striking your stomach slightly more intense. If you remain relaxed, the strike is able to distribute more evenly throughout the gut area thus relieving the sharp stinging sensation.
Lesson 3: Better to be safe than sorry!
Ping pong application: Always place the paddle over your face when playing war pong. Even if your opponent is striking your back. When playing in an enclosed area, with walls a maximum of 9 feet away, chances are the ball will ricochet off the wall and hit you in the face with the same amount of velocity!
Lesson 4: Always better to have the best gear.
Ping pong application: One's paddle is the key to his/her game. Often times having a better paddle can make or break your performance.
Lesson 1: Always expect the unexpected.
Ping pong application: Beware of your hand eye coordination becoming temporarily impaired. Some of the best excuses that can be used are: "there is an odd glare on the table," "the lighting is to dim," "my eyes are fuzzy." (etc.)
Lesson 2: Always be relaxed. Tensing up or becoming frustrated only makes situations worse.
Ping pong application: While playing war pong don't tense up. Tensing up makes the pain of the ball striking your stomach slightly more intense. If you remain relaxed, the strike is able to distribute more evenly throughout the gut area thus relieving the sharp stinging sensation.
Lesson 3: Better to be safe than sorry!
Ping pong application: Always place the paddle over your face when playing war pong. Even if your opponent is striking your back. When playing in an enclosed area, with walls a maximum of 9 feet away, chances are the ball will ricochet off the wall and hit you in the face with the same amount of velocity!
Lesson 4: Always better to have the best gear.
Ping pong application: One's paddle is the key to his/her game. Often times having a better paddle can make or break your performance.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
TA DA!!!!
Well, here it is. It is officially sent in with my application however, I'm not stopping there. I will probably continue to revise it more in order to stretch my writing skills. Please feel free to comment or criticize as it will help me grow in writing!
Fairy Tales in Education
I.
Are fairy tales truly important? Do they have any influence on the human soul? Is it at all efficacious for the successful education of young people? The following essay attempts to answer these questions by considering several arguments for, and several arguments against, the importance of fairy tales in the education of young people. It appears that science is the leading tool of knowledge these days because it deals with facts. Would it not be better to educate our children with facts instead of fiction? There seems to be no danger in teaching a child facts however, there appears to be a danger in educating them in fiction. Science explains what a thing is made of, thereby making us capable of knowing what the thing “is”. Fairy tales on the other hand claim that science is only one way of gaining knowledge. And, that knowledge is incomplete without fairy tales. In fact, science could not stand on its own without the help of fairy tales. Yet fairy tales likewise would be incomplete without science. We have been taught to leave the realm of fairyland behind in our old childish dreams. Perhaps we ought to think differently and should never have left that realm, only incorporate into it other truths.
Science is independent of all imagination and metaphysical dealings. The crux of science is in dealing with the empirical evidence found in nature. Thus, understanding how our physical universe works. Removing the wonder of how a flower blooms and replacing it with the knowledge of how it does bloom, is the job of science. The word science comes from the Latin word Scientia, meaning knowledge. It does not delve into the realm of the imagination where all things appear probable; as in the mind of a child. Science is a realm for practical adults who deal with the laws and hard truths of nature. As Jean Rostand said, “Science has made us gods even before we are worthy of being men”. To remain in the realm of fairy tales is to lack growth and maturity in truth. Because science revolves around truth, it would be foolish of one to esteem fairy tales (which contain solely fiction) above the laws and physical workings of nature. If at the very least, fairy tales cultivate a child’s imagination giving him/her a false perception of reality and perhaps worse a prejudice against science. By no means can science explain the workings of all things at the present but the progress of science has been so incredible, it will only be a matter of time. What was once thought a miracle in the sky will soon be found to be a mere working of hydrogen and oxygen molecules in a certain pattern.
With these present and future tools of science, we will be able to more adequately educate our children. In science, we will fill the minds of our young people with truths, rather than ideas which are not cohesive with the actual world. Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to educate our kids with the facts of life rather than the imagination of some author? To expose and cultivate a fictitious mind set in our children would be to fail that generation; making them incapable to lead when their time comes. What people want are intelligent leaders, capable of making good decisions. Not leaders who daydream about fairies. One must ask themselves, “Where would our country be if our leaders only considered the impossibilities of fairy land as war tactics?” Our country would be lost to dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, if we did not use the tools of science and reason. To say that our children need to be immersed in fairy tales and educated in them is only a recipe of destruction for the future of the world.
II.
On the other hand, fairy tales are the very tools by which the incredible power of our imagination is awakened. Without the imagination, science cannot exist. New discoveries in science will cease to be made, thus, science will no longer flourish. Therefore fairy tales are an extremely important faculty in the education of young people.
III.
The notion that fairy tales are the exact opposite and completely separate from the realm of science, is very misleading because it is the very purpose of a fairy tale to stir the imagination of a child. George MacDonald once said, “It (a fairy tale) is there, not so much to convey a meaning but to awaken one.” Without the imagination, science could not exist. How did scientists come to know all of the laws and facts that we know today? It was through a process of observation. However, scientist did not know before-hand whether or not this form of observation would produce results. The process by which he hoped to observe cannot be explained through a certain law he was following but only by his imagination. Certainly it was his intellect that concluded the results but it was his imagination that produced the ability to find the results. Novalis said, “The imagination is the stuff of the intellect”, meaning that it is not the intellect which is the highest tool by which things are discovered. It is the imagination that searches out and the intellect that investigates. For example, the imagination could be thought of as the navigator and the intellect as its hireling. What the imagination discovers the intellect investigates; making the unknown discovery of the imagination known. The very heart of a scientific inventor is his imagination. To stunt the growth of a young child’s imagination is the same as abandoning any further great discoveries in science and leaving humanity hopelessly caught in a torpid circle of stagnation. This would ultimately amount to the fear that most people have concerning fairy tales; a false perception of reality.
However, what they fail to realize is that by limiting or completely ignoring the need for an imagination is to give just as false a reality, because exploiting previously discovered truths is not where a better understanding of reality is found. Certainly this is not to say that those discovered truths ought not to be searched out, but rather to say it is better to cultivate great discoverers than exploiters. Genius is not found in the exploitation of an idea but in the discovery of it. Plato was not a philosophical genius because he elaborated on philosophical truths (although that was part of it) but because he discovered those truths. Just as Thomas Edison is not famous for exploiting the use of the light bulb but rather he invented it.
Therefore, would it not be best to educate our children in the art of invention rather than exploitation? By protecting a child from fairy tales for fear of a false perception, one will only lead them into that same fear but by a different route. Thus an education in both disciplines is the only safe guard against this common and most probable fear. For to educate a child solely in the art of science, is like giving somebody half the pieces of a puzzle. And, in the same way it is dangerous to do so, because when that half of the puzzle is put together the person will have a false idea (however, not completely void of truth) of what the picture of the puzzle is supposed to represent. For example; beauty cannot be found wholly in scientific terms because there is an element to beauty which cannot be explained by its physical attributes. Just as the power of music, cannot be defined by the notes in a scale. Science certainly helps in revealing a part of beauty but it does not give the entire picture. In consequence, without the entire picture, it is much more probable one will twist and distort the truth.
However, this is not the only reason why fairy tales must be an important part of education but also because it is one of the most efficacious ways a child learns. As Chesterton said, “I knew the magic bean stalk before I had tasted beans; I was sure of the man in the moon before I was certain of the moon.” A child is more likely, and often does, retain a story much better than facts stated in a text book. They may not know it but they often hold to the truths conveyed in fairy tales as well. And this is the power of a fairy tale; that too often people don’t realize the moral truths or falsities of which they ignorantly adopt. Therefore, it is a powerful position to be the author of a fairy tale; one that ought not be taken lightly. Thus it is important, that as teachers and educators, we immerse children in good fairy tales, ones that are beautiful and true, that they may grow up having adopted virtuous morals. It would be a wicked act indeed, to write a story of a good man doing bad deeds and a bad man doing good deeds. The world would be a much better place if there were greater story tellers and inventors.
In addition, fairy tales are important if only for this reason; they do not confine a thing to what it is made of. In his book “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” C.S. Lewis portrays this aspect of fairy tales in his character Romandu. Romandu is a retired star slowly getting younger everyday that he might return, “And once more tread the great dance”. But Eustace, in his ignorance, explains to him that in his world stars are only big balls of gas. In response, Romandu explains that is not what a star is, but only what it is made of. Surely it is good to know what makes up the physical attributes of the world but to allow that to be the definition of what a thing is, can only lead to a complete disregard for all that is good and beautiful in the world.
Perhaps it would be best to return to the days of our childhood where all things were wonderful and new. Where science was important and yet not the tool with which all wisdom is found. Stars were amazing because we did not know who they were. And it was to this childish wonder that Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." If the main concern for not educating our young people in fairy tales is a false perception of reality then we ought to realize educating them solely in science will bring about the same fear.
Fairy Tales in Education
I.
Are fairy tales truly important? Do they have any influence on the human soul? Is it at all efficacious for the successful education of young people? The following essay attempts to answer these questions by considering several arguments for, and several arguments against, the importance of fairy tales in the education of young people. It appears that science is the leading tool of knowledge these days because it deals with facts. Would it not be better to educate our children with facts instead of fiction? There seems to be no danger in teaching a child facts however, there appears to be a danger in educating them in fiction. Science explains what a thing is made of, thereby making us capable of knowing what the thing “is”. Fairy tales on the other hand claim that science is only one way of gaining knowledge. And, that knowledge is incomplete without fairy tales. In fact, science could not stand on its own without the help of fairy tales. Yet fairy tales likewise would be incomplete without science. We have been taught to leave the realm of fairyland behind in our old childish dreams. Perhaps we ought to think differently and should never have left that realm, only incorporate into it other truths.
Science is independent of all imagination and metaphysical dealings. The crux of science is in dealing with the empirical evidence found in nature. Thus, understanding how our physical universe works. Removing the wonder of how a flower blooms and replacing it with the knowledge of how it does bloom, is the job of science. The word science comes from the Latin word Scientia, meaning knowledge. It does not delve into the realm of the imagination where all things appear probable; as in the mind of a child. Science is a realm for practical adults who deal with the laws and hard truths of nature. As Jean Rostand said, “Science has made us gods even before we are worthy of being men”. To remain in the realm of fairy tales is to lack growth and maturity in truth. Because science revolves around truth, it would be foolish of one to esteem fairy tales (which contain solely fiction) above the laws and physical workings of nature. If at the very least, fairy tales cultivate a child’s imagination giving him/her a false perception of reality and perhaps worse a prejudice against science. By no means can science explain the workings of all things at the present but the progress of science has been so incredible, it will only be a matter of time. What was once thought a miracle in the sky will soon be found to be a mere working of hydrogen and oxygen molecules in a certain pattern.
With these present and future tools of science, we will be able to more adequately educate our children. In science, we will fill the minds of our young people with truths, rather than ideas which are not cohesive with the actual world. Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to educate our kids with the facts of life rather than the imagination of some author? To expose and cultivate a fictitious mind set in our children would be to fail that generation; making them incapable to lead when their time comes. What people want are intelligent leaders, capable of making good decisions. Not leaders who daydream about fairies. One must ask themselves, “Where would our country be if our leaders only considered the impossibilities of fairy land as war tactics?” Our country would be lost to dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, if we did not use the tools of science and reason. To say that our children need to be immersed in fairy tales and educated in them is only a recipe of destruction for the future of the world.
II.
On the other hand, fairy tales are the very tools by which the incredible power of our imagination is awakened. Without the imagination, science cannot exist. New discoveries in science will cease to be made, thus, science will no longer flourish. Therefore fairy tales are an extremely important faculty in the education of young people.
III.
The notion that fairy tales are the exact opposite and completely separate from the realm of science, is very misleading because it is the very purpose of a fairy tale to stir the imagination of a child. George MacDonald once said, “It (a fairy tale) is there, not so much to convey a meaning but to awaken one.” Without the imagination, science could not exist. How did scientists come to know all of the laws and facts that we know today? It was through a process of observation. However, scientist did not know before-hand whether or not this form of observation would produce results. The process by which he hoped to observe cannot be explained through a certain law he was following but only by his imagination. Certainly it was his intellect that concluded the results but it was his imagination that produced the ability to find the results. Novalis said, “The imagination is the stuff of the intellect”, meaning that it is not the intellect which is the highest tool by which things are discovered. It is the imagination that searches out and the intellect that investigates. For example, the imagination could be thought of as the navigator and the intellect as its hireling. What the imagination discovers the intellect investigates; making the unknown discovery of the imagination known. The very heart of a scientific inventor is his imagination. To stunt the growth of a young child’s imagination is the same as abandoning any further great discoveries in science and leaving humanity hopelessly caught in a torpid circle of stagnation. This would ultimately amount to the fear that most people have concerning fairy tales; a false perception of reality.
However, what they fail to realize is that by limiting or completely ignoring the need for an imagination is to give just as false a reality, because exploiting previously discovered truths is not where a better understanding of reality is found. Certainly this is not to say that those discovered truths ought not to be searched out, but rather to say it is better to cultivate great discoverers than exploiters. Genius is not found in the exploitation of an idea but in the discovery of it. Plato was not a philosophical genius because he elaborated on philosophical truths (although that was part of it) but because he discovered those truths. Just as Thomas Edison is not famous for exploiting the use of the light bulb but rather he invented it.
Therefore, would it not be best to educate our children in the art of invention rather than exploitation? By protecting a child from fairy tales for fear of a false perception, one will only lead them into that same fear but by a different route. Thus an education in both disciplines is the only safe guard against this common and most probable fear. For to educate a child solely in the art of science, is like giving somebody half the pieces of a puzzle. And, in the same way it is dangerous to do so, because when that half of the puzzle is put together the person will have a false idea (however, not completely void of truth) of what the picture of the puzzle is supposed to represent. For example; beauty cannot be found wholly in scientific terms because there is an element to beauty which cannot be explained by its physical attributes. Just as the power of music, cannot be defined by the notes in a scale. Science certainly helps in revealing a part of beauty but it does not give the entire picture. In consequence, without the entire picture, it is much more probable one will twist and distort the truth.
However, this is not the only reason why fairy tales must be an important part of education but also because it is one of the most efficacious ways a child learns. As Chesterton said, “I knew the magic bean stalk before I had tasted beans; I was sure of the man in the moon before I was certain of the moon.” A child is more likely, and often does, retain a story much better than facts stated in a text book. They may not know it but they often hold to the truths conveyed in fairy tales as well. And this is the power of a fairy tale; that too often people don’t realize the moral truths or falsities of which they ignorantly adopt. Therefore, it is a powerful position to be the author of a fairy tale; one that ought not be taken lightly. Thus it is important, that as teachers and educators, we immerse children in good fairy tales, ones that are beautiful and true, that they may grow up having adopted virtuous morals. It would be a wicked act indeed, to write a story of a good man doing bad deeds and a bad man doing good deeds. The world would be a much better place if there were greater story tellers and inventors.
In addition, fairy tales are important if only for this reason; they do not confine a thing to what it is made of. In his book “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” C.S. Lewis portrays this aspect of fairy tales in his character Romandu. Romandu is a retired star slowly getting younger everyday that he might return, “And once more tread the great dance”. But Eustace, in his ignorance, explains to him that in his world stars are only big balls of gas. In response, Romandu explains that is not what a star is, but only what it is made of. Surely it is good to know what makes up the physical attributes of the world but to allow that to be the definition of what a thing is, can only lead to a complete disregard for all that is good and beautiful in the world.
Perhaps it would be best to return to the days of our childhood where all things were wonderful and new. Where science was important and yet not the tool with which all wisdom is found. Stars were amazing because we did not know who they were. And it was to this childish wonder that Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." If the main concern for not educating our young people in fairy tales is a false perception of reality then we ought to realize educating them solely in science will bring about the same fear.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
A new discovery!!
This may seem like old news to most of you....but I have just recently discovered that you can buy books on tape from itunes!! And not just by modern authors but also books by C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, T.S. Eliot, Christopher Paolini (I know he is a modern author but still....)and so many more!! The reason for my ecstacy is this: at work I am able to listen to music through my ipod the whole time I am there. Recently I have been listening to the Narnia series and have begun to feel very sad now that I am on the last book. However, my mourning was turned into dancing when I discovered itunes audiobooks!! Work now seems more inviting when I can take fairy land along with me as well as systematic theology! :~)
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Coming soon
I am in the midst of writing a rather large paper as part of my Torrey Honors application (hence the lack of posting). Slowly, I am beginning to finish it up and plan to post most of it up on my blog. The thesis of my paper is "On Fairy Tales and Their Importance." So stay tuned!
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