Thoughts on Academics

In regards to the academic endeavor, Simone Weil (noted philosopher and Christian mystic) once wrote, "The solution of a geometry problem does not in itself constitute a precious gift, but the same law applies to it because it is the image of something precious. Being a little fragment of particular truth, it is a pure image of the unique, eternal, and living Truth, the very Truth that once in a human voice declared: 'I am the Truth.' Every school exercise, thought of in this way, is like a sacrament."("Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God").

When I heard these words quoted in chapel this morning, I found myself renewed in my desire and decision to attend grad school. Over the past seven weeks, while I enjoyed far too much solitude, I found myself wondering why I was continuing my education. What exactly was I trying to accomplish? As I have said before, the original reason that prompted my coming to seminary have changed. I no longer wish to go into PhD work (for the time being at least) and I am becoming more inclined toward pastoral ministry of some type. Given that, I often wonder what purpose does a masters-level education serve (apart from being required for ordination in the Presbyterian Church)? I have not learned anything about doing ministry that I couldn't have learned by trial and error or through reading. Why am I here? Why do I feel called to be here at Princeton? Once Hebrew began last week, those questions only grew more intense as I became more and more overwhelmed by the task of learning a dead language (Biblical Hebrew is apparently different enough from Modern Hebrew to be considered dead).

However, as I sat in chapel this morning and listened to one of the Hebrew teaching assistants list off four reasons for studying a dead language, employing Weil as her support, I was reminded of the nobility of academic pursuit. Being here at seminary is preparation, in more ways than simply the formal education in the classroom, for what comes next. What I am learning here is shaping me and preparing me for serving and equipping the saints for the work God has prepared for them. Furthermore, seminary is one of many ways to learn more about God and as a result, draw into a closer and deeper relationship with the Creator of the universe. I love the second half of the above quote. "Being a little fragment of particular truth, it is a pure image of the unique, eternal, and living Truth, the very Truth that once in a human voice declared: 'I am the Truth.'" Think about that for a second. The more truth we learn, the more we learn about God. If I were to keep that as a constant thought on my mind as I continue my education, how would that change the way I study? It really does make studying akin to a sacrament. Grace is bestowed through study, the grace of the knowledge of our Creator and Savior. As I go deeper in my study of Hebrew, I hope I can keep this thought ever before me. Maybe, just maybe, I will be filled with gratitude rather than frustration and anxiety.

Somehow, I have not heard much about Simone Weil up to this point in my years of theological education. For that I am sad. I think I would really like her. Especially because of her views on academics and the reminders her writings give. That being said, I'll leave you with one last quote from her that I think says it all.

"Academic work is one of those fields containing a pearl so precious that it is worth while to sell all of our possessions, keeping nothing for ourselves, in order to be able to acquire it."

Amen.

The Sound of Summer Slipping Away

Alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon... Those were the sounds of yesterday as one of my good friends learned the Greek alphabet in preparation for summer intensive language school, which starts in a little over a week. Monday after next, the majority of my friends, a handful of incoming students, myself, and others will begin our summer language courses. Hebrew is the course on the docket for me. If you have never learned Hebrew, let me just tell you that it is terrifying. I looked at the alphabet yesterday in a futile attempt to get a head start and wanted to cry. It is nothing like anything I've ever learned before. First, the letters don't look like normal letters. Second, there are no vowels. Third, you have to read backwards. How am I going to survive 8 weeks of 6 hour days of Hebrew?

A question like this reminds me that I have grown up despite all of my attempts to hinder that process. My summers are no longer filled with childish games and carefree fun, but rather with work and studying. That is not to say that there is no fun to be had. I have had an enjoyable summer for the most part. Trips to the shore, board games, the zoo, catching fireflies, and other adventures have kept my summer from being completely dull. But as the summer slips away, I'm wishing I had gone on more silly adventures. This is most likely my last summer with significant amounts of free time. Next summer will be consumed by an internship and the summer after that is the start of real grown up life, whatever that means. It's amazing how quickly time flies leaving you standing on the edge of responsible adulthood before you are aware of how fast your childhood and adolescence have flown by. I miss the carefree days of summer that were eagerly awaited during the school year. If only I had recognized how quickly all of that would pass, maybe I would have taken advantage of it more. For now, it's back to the attempts to make the last few days of my summer last forever before jumping in over my head into Hebrew. Wish me luck!