I try not to interfere in the lives of my children but an alarm bell has gone off. Plenty of people don't go to college and lead perfectly happy lives. I wasn't aware that anyone had ever defined a perfectly happy life. Plato's cave dwellers may have had such. Life is like soup. You start off your life as plain water. Slowly, over time, things are added to the water that make up your life as a person. College is like spices, the divergent views and backgrounds you encounter there slowly meld to make a harmonious broth. You begin to realize that there is more to the world than you. A college in a big city has the input of a panoply of cultures and wisdom, as long as it is not a religious college where the remasticated pap of a hundred generations is force fed to to a willing group of intellectual infants. College is like decorating for the mind. It is not about putting new siding on the house to please the neighbors, putting a gazebo in the front yard so the neighbors can see instead of putting it in the backyard for a personal retreat from the cares of the day. It is like putting flowers on the table or a beautiful well roasted turkey on the table. It is a reward for the mind and expands the menu of possibilities. It is not for show, it is for yourself. Bilbo was happy in his little burrow but when he stepped out his front door, the world opened up to him. The world, with all of it's fears and dangers, palette of thoughts and thrills, and different experiences and people. I once wrote a paper on the ticks that transmit Rocky Mountain Fever and what their life must be like. They may sit on the end of a branch for thirty years, in a semi-dormant state, waiting for something with warm blood to come by. They think that they are living perfectly happy lives, for a tick. They will never discover fire or the wheel and, if exposed to a Monet, they would probably find the frame an excellent place to live. College is not a necessity. It simply gives you a piece of paper to show the other people, that have the piece of paper, that you are part of the club. A person can enrich their life on their own, but the spice will be diluted. A perfectly happy life, has such a thing ever existed? A "good enough" life may be enough to settle for but it is nothing to strive for. There is too much living to do, too many mountains to see, too many menus to choose from. Thirty years on the end of a branch seems like a waste of time, unless the branch is French Tarragon and therefore may be worth it. The sight of a Monet should not move one to the frame but into the world of beauty and wonder. Thus spaketh the long haired sleeping gnome!
well said. (from the voyeur in southern new england- how did I find you guys anyway???)
let me tell you a sad story.
friend of mine was in college, loved it. became born a second time...pastor (aka pasturd) mocked education of the world...tried to understand why my friend was in college as if my friend was an idiot for thinking there was something of value there.....promised friend that the only learning he needed was from the bible and His teachings....promised leadership positions (AH the ultimate idol (00Ps i mean goal in so many lives) in his church in turn for loyalty.....
now?
said friend woke up one day, left emotionally abusive church after almost 15 years of tithing; sacrificing life; money and energy to pastor's mission.
raising 1 year old daughter by back breaking delivery as a mail man in all kinds of weather...
wandering lost for the last 7 years, wondering about college but not knowing how to get there.
there is never a good time to go to college perfectly.... but there will always be days left to wonder what if when one doesnt follow their dreams.
Perhaps there is funding at the college for daycare issues; there was for me. Johannah- email me.
2 comments:
I try not to interfere in the lives of my children but an alarm bell has gone off. Plenty of people don't go to college and lead perfectly happy lives. I wasn't aware that anyone had ever defined a perfectly happy life. Plato's cave dwellers may have had such.
Life is like soup. You start off your life as plain water. Slowly, over time, things are added to the water that make up your life as a person. College is like spices, the divergent views and backgrounds you encounter there slowly meld to make a harmonious broth. You begin to realize that there is more to the world than you. A college in a big city has the input of a panoply of cultures and wisdom, as long as it is not a religious college where the remasticated pap of a hundred generations is force fed to to a willing group of intellectual infants. College is like decorating for the mind. It is not about putting new siding on the house to please the neighbors, putting a gazebo in the front yard so the neighbors can see instead of putting it in the backyard for a personal retreat from the cares of the day. It is like putting flowers on the table or a beautiful well roasted turkey on the table. It is a reward for the mind and expands the menu of possibilities. It is not for show, it is for yourself. Bilbo was happy in his little burrow but when he stepped out his front door, the world opened up to him. The world, with all of it's fears and dangers, palette of thoughts and thrills, and different experiences and people.
I once wrote a paper on the ticks that transmit Rocky Mountain Fever and what their life must be like. They may sit on the end of a branch for thirty years, in a semi-dormant state, waiting for something with warm blood to come by. They think that they are living perfectly happy lives, for a tick. They will never discover fire or the wheel and, if exposed to a Monet, they would probably find the frame an excellent place to live.
College is not a necessity. It simply gives you a piece of paper to show the other people, that have the piece of paper, that you are part of the club. A person can enrich their life on their own, but the spice will be diluted. A perfectly happy life, has such a thing ever existed? A "good enough" life may be enough to settle for but it is nothing to strive for. There is too much living to do, too many mountains to see, too many menus to choose from. Thirty years on the end of a branch seems like a waste of time, unless the branch is French Tarragon and therefore may be worth it. The sight of a Monet should not move one to the frame but into the world of beauty and wonder. Thus spaketh the long haired sleeping gnome!
well said. (from the voyeur in southern new england- how did I find you guys anyway???)
let me tell you a sad story.
friend of mine was in college, loved it. became born a second time...pastor (aka pasturd) mocked education of the world...tried to understand why my friend was in college as if my friend was an idiot for thinking there was something of value there.....promised friend that the only learning he needed was from the bible and His teachings....promised leadership positions (AH the ultimate idol (00Ps i mean goal in so many lives) in his church in turn for loyalty.....
now?
said friend woke up one day, left emotionally abusive church after almost 15 years of tithing; sacrificing life; money and energy to pastor's mission.
raising 1 year old daughter by back breaking delivery as a mail man in all kinds of weather...
wandering lost for the last 7 years, wondering about college but not knowing how to get there.
there is never a good time to go to college perfectly....
but there will always be days left to wonder what if when one doesnt follow their dreams.
Perhaps there is funding at the college for daycare issues; there was for me. Johannah- email me.
Post a Comment