Mind Boggling
Mind Boggling
Charlotte Mason educator and author Karen Andreola tells us that every day we must give our children three things: something to love, something to do, and something to think about. I think each of us should include these three items in our schedules of necessary things to accomplish each day.
God has given man a curious mind, a mind that wants to know. There is nothing quite like the delight (and frustration) of puzzling your little head over the mysteries of the universe. It is a wonder we should never lose to deadening apathy.
Things to think about... Some of these questions have answers. Others have none.
What is light? What is color? Does color exist apart from light or is color an inerrant characteristic of an object? How do our eyes distinguish between colors? Why can’t we see certain colors?
What is time? Can we really measure time? What are the pros and cons of measuring time by natural phenomena (the sun, the lunar cycle, the seasons), human events (historical anniversaries, birthdays), or mathematical measurements (clocks)? Have you noticed that we usually use movement to measure time (the passage of the sun, a clock’s hands)? Why do you think that is?
Are there limits to what we can measure? For example, can we measure the quality of human thought or intelligence in mathematical terms? Are school grades a legitimate attempt to do so?
How big are we? how big is the earth? the solar system? the universe? (Here are some mind-boggling comparison charts to see.) Do we matter to God? Why? “When I consider thy heavens, and the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the sun of man, that thou visiteth him?” Psalm 8:3-9.
How do you like to puzzle, intrigue, and grow yourself?
Photograph: Mind-Boggling. © Handmaidens of the Shepherd, September 2008.
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HILDEGARD said...
For years I puzzled over whether there would be different sizes of infinity, as I came to describe it to myself. I pictured the number line extending so far that we humans would lose track of the names of all the numbers, not comprehending their size. But this narrowness would by no means limit God, who would know all their names, whether beyond the point of our reasoning or not. In college, I discovered through the gracious explanations of my math-major friends that this was simply the difference between the set of finite numbers and the set of infinite numbers—a much less cumbersome way to describe things!
It seems to me that no day should pass without some profound thought, especially when we are acquainted with the One who holds the key to the treasure-houses of knowledge.
Friday, September 19, 2008 06:32 PM
Friday, September 12, 2008