Do you need proof of things for them to satisfy you? I am back to teaching today. Did I need proof that I missed the students? I half joked that it was quite a guilty pleasure to take 3 weeks off; perhaps I could grow used to it!
It was obvious to me after the evening was over that I adore spending time with these wonderful young people. But yes, I do need to feel that feeling. I am in a state of reevaluating a lot about my life, who I am, what I am, and what I do. I have been questioning my roles in the multi-faceted world in which I live. I have three jobs, children and spouse. There are four if you want to count my composing as a "job". Although busy, these jobs overlap and work together, and bring much color and variety to my life. However, sometimes I DO need proof that validates my time and how I'm spending it.
On television there is a "Naked Archeologist" episode (great show, by the way) in which the proof is inconclusive about King Solomon and whether he existed, whether he built a temple, whether he built fortified gates at Meggido, Hazor, and Gezzar. The archeologists do not agree on the time periods of each site. They do not agree on the artifacts. Are the artifacts real or forgeries? They need the proof or they will not believe.
So, do I need archeology evidence to trust whether Solomon existed? Yes, sometimes I do. It would certainly be easier to believe if there was indisputable tangible evidence. Do you? Do you have faith on something when evidence may only speculate? What about your life do you take on faith? Have you questioned why you're doing what you're doing? Does it frighten you to do so?
A friend of mine says that to question the things in my life is to potentially upset the apple cart. "If it's going fine, why would you want to ruin it", she urged. I countered, "Why would you want to continue doing something just because that's how you've always done it?" It made her too uncomfortable to continue the discussion.
Where do you stand?
"Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Quite an interesting post, i will certainly link it. For me, it is a matter of degree. It is certainly more easy for me to question, say, received wisdom, as opposed to my own unerringly arrived at convictions. And yet how much easier to breathe for awhile when one does so!
ReplyDeleteah....I seem to always be going to the place were you are now, questioning, evaluating and when necessary moving on to something new. there are threads that are always there no matter what I may find myself doing at any particular time - but personally I find being complacent often a very uncomfortable place to be.
ReplyDeletethis issue of proof....seems we shared a certain theme today on some magical level? n'est ce pas?
when ever I have found myself in a teaching position I have found it quite reassuring.... so I can see how after a break of 3 weeks it was nice to return.
best on the quest!
The more I question, the easier it gets for me to question. I feel like I am transceding the searching phase of my life. It is much easier to take things on faith. It is nice when science validates an event but some times I just need to trust my own inner instinct. Great questions.
ReplyDeleteProbing questions! What is it that "they" say about the unexamined life? That it's not worth living - or something like that. There is so much that is valuable just in the process of evaluating. I personally love the summer because it gives me time to think about what I'm doing and where I'm headed. I'm always very validated in my teaching after a break, knowing that I totally thrive on the interaction with my students. I always end up thinking there would be a terrible void in my life without them. This keeps me energized and moving forward.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the saying - the unexplored life is not worth living - or something like that? I explore, but sometimes I'm also afraid. Sometimes I let things lie, and sometimes I overturn the rock. Sometimes we need to have faith in what we can't prove. We need to find that place inside that says, yes, we're on the right track. Keep going this way.
ReplyDeleteI think that the human being is usually in a constant quest for knowledge and Goethe delved into that facet when he wrote Faust. I am anti-Faustian by nature, that means that knowledge is infinite and my capacity to achieve limited. Your post throws up some good questions. Do we need evidence for everything we see, tuch, smell? No, but we do need a process whereby we can 'prove' (and that's an important word) that the object, phenomenon, situation did not magic itself out of thin air. Many thanks for your post and I hope you had a relaxing break.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.