knowledge vs. imagination

Einstein once said: "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

When a kid wanted to write an article on how a person can travel at the speed of light, I said no, simply because it was impossible, and because it had to be a realistic how-to article to use for our current magazine project.  (Note: the fastest space shuttle speed was last recorded as 17,500 miles per hour. The speed of light is 186,282 miles per second). He was genuinely convinced, by watching a TV show, that a person could travel at the speed of light. I was so baffled by his genuine belief (ignorance?), I didn't know whether to encourage/discourage his belief.  His mother later intervened telling me, "If he wants to teach you how you can travel at the speed of light, let him show you."

Uhh......................................................

was my response.


This happened weeks ago, but the incidence has been lingering in my mind.

Should I have let the kid do his research and find out himself that it is humanly impossible? (and later turn in nothing). Or should I have let the kid's imagination roam free? Or did I do the right thing in telling him it was impossible and to change his topic.


Some days I wonder if I'm killing imagination.

Forgiveness

I have a student who has difficulty controlling his emotions and can't articulate his thoughts.  He hasn't been diagnosed with anything, but he definitely stutters and has emotional issues.  When he's frustrated at another student, he yells out his complaint or his/her name.  This has been an issue because he actually yells, hence causing interruption and disruption to teaching/learning.  The problem was, he would get frustrated by accidents or things that would normally be okay for other students, i.e., someone tripping over his backpack, someone accidentally moving his desk while trying to switch desk directions for pair activities, etc.  (Of course, I made sure to observe/investigate whether any of these "attacks" were antagonistic or accidental.) When one of these outbursts occured, it took minutes to get the rest of the class back into task-mode, which was frustrating for me since they were accidents.  I talked with him about the problem of his instinct reaction being yelling, and then I talked to him about ways to resolve the issue rather than emotionally responding to his frustration.

On Thursday, class was ending and I had students rearranging the desks to their normal places before the bell.  The student, again, yelled at another student for elbowing him, and as a teacher, my first instinct was to see if it was contentious or if it was an accident.  The kid who elbowed him was a boy whom I considered the most passive in the class. Very polite, quiet, and hard-working. He looked at me with shock and confusion, oblivious to what had happened. Other kids from the group intervened to explain it was an accident.  Then I called the student out. "J, what did I say about yelling? Was it an accident?" "I don't know~!" "Did you talk to him?" "It hurt!" And the bell rang and kids started to scatter out the door. Before he left, all I could say was, "Forgive him."

I don't know why, but it felt weird saying that. Like a foreign language in a secular realm. I am saved by forgiveness, and the expression, if not the practice, dwells within me, but what does it mean for nonbelievers -- to forgive? Does it mean anything at all? Do they have reason to forgive?

Singing Praises

One Sunday a long time ago, when I used to live in my hometown and my parents were visiting from Korea, we visited a large Korean church for Sunday service. After the usual service routine of hymnal praise, choir presentation, and message, a special presentation took place during offering. A lady said to have been suffering from an illness came up and sang a song.  I don't remember what the song was about, nor why she was chosen to sing in the first place, but I do remember the many errors in tune and melody, and her voice cracking here and there.  It was rather painful; but regardless, it was the most memorable presentation. She sang with her heart. Tears streamed down my mother's cheeks, and my father and I withheld ours with incessant sniffles.  She sang with her heart, singing praises to our God.  Nothing else mattered.

When I sing praises, I remember that woman who sang with her heart.

Beclouded

will it be warm on Friday afternoon.
are we all farmers, plowing in our field.
hoping for sun and rain,
and the comfort they bring.

my head is in the clouds
not lovely,
but dark and cold
what do I see, what do I know.

love is patient, love is kind.

what does it mean
to bear all things
believe all things
hope all things
and endure all things*?

what are all these things?

*1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Introduction of Self

In the first grade, my friend and I thought of a brilliant idea of putting sand in our hair because we thought it was the funniest thing watching sand fall out of our hair like snow. I remember this with  sentimental humor, but it has recently occurred to me what horror and disgust I may have caused my teacher and mother. I am twenty-nine years old and I realize this now -- what the heck was I thinking/doing!

That is me.  Inspired, to put it positively, non compos mentis, to be exact.  But in all seriousness and honesty, I am a sinner. 

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead ^[f]in our transgressions, made us alive together ^[g]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and ^[h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2: 4-10).

I want my life to reflect Him. I was crazy and delusional (and I am still), but I want to show that by His great love and mercy, I am able to know that I am a sinner and He has saved me from my sins. For this, I want my life to reflect His love and grace.

That's all.