Opus 2013-26: The Tap Root of Learning

I am always listening.  In education they have a mantra about children being able to learn something every day.  That is true as far as it goes.  Many of the children they are talking about keep learning the same thing over and over again, but they do learn it every day.  I listen and like to think I learn.

One reason I learn by listening is that I am always sifting, filtering and compiling.  I enjoy hearing new bits of scientific data.  Sometimes brings an application.  Recently I wrote about 3D Printing.  I listened to a podcast about Why Einstein was chosen as Man of the Century.  I take the offerings and again, sift, filter, compile.  Since I am not a scientist I do not apply it to a body of scientific knowledge but to my Renaissance man view of the universe.  I often have a different grasp of new this new knowledge because that view is based in scripture. 

Some times I feel this places the puzzle pieces of life very well, better than the scientists view.  Why?  First, my view is more eclectic.  Scientists tend to have tunnel vision when it comes to reality.  They tend to be specialists and too many of them think that their specialty is the dog when it is only the tail.  Too often they think that because they have a Ph.D. in chemistry they can be an expert on overpopulation.  A person can be brilliant in their chosen field and largely ignorant about the world.  Does the term idiot savant sound familiar?

Second, I recognize the existence of mystery.  In my world view there are areas of mystery that I don’t claim to know or understand.  God is infinite by definition.  As a human being I recognize that there is such a concept of infinity but I cannot understand it.  Neither can the experts.  I listened to a scientist and a philosopher talk about it for an hour and they were no closer to explaining it than at the beginning of their discussion.  For the scientist everything is supposed to be under their ability to understand and control.  Maybe not real scientists, but how many of those are there?

Third, I have a confidence it all fits.  I believe in a personal, involved God.  He created.  He upholds.  He intervenes.  That gives me a confidence when I question and when I don’t understand.  It allows me to take the big picture and use my imagination. 

The question is “What is your tap root?”  What does your main supply line sink into?  What is your foundation?

It makes a difference.

homo unius libri