The distinction is subtle but the difference is so pertinent it bears examination.
Bravery is the ability to confront pain and difficulty without feelings of fear.
Courage is the ability to confront pain and difficulty DESPITE the fear that is eminent.
"The essence of courage is not the feeling of being certainly capable of overcoming what’s one is faced with, but rather is the willful choice to fight regardless of the consequences."
There is no Biblical promise that fear will not be present, courage can be obtained as our biddings from God are enablings from Him as well.
This sheds new light on the promise:
"Be strong and courageous" - Joshua 1:9
Showing posts with label Idea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Idea. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Conviction
Conviction, it seems, doesn't come from someone else telling us what we're doing wrong per se, but more strongly from someone we admire telling us what they want to change in their own life.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Everyday Religion
Often, after some time in the Christian walk, we forget how we came into it. How Christ lead and continues to lead in our lives. I was just discussing this topic with a friend of mine who was formerly in a Bible study group I used to give back in California. The subject of complete surrender came up and we saw how many times we as Christians refuse to give everything to God, yet still continue to claim to walk with Him.
Look at the silliness of this idea. I have replaced the original words with words more like many of the Christian walks today:
Look at the silliness of this idea. I have replaced the original words with words more like many of the Christian walks today:
- Some to Jesus I surrender;
Some to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.- Refrain:
I surrender Some,
I surrender Some;
Some to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender Some.
- Refrain:
- Some to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures partly forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now. - Some to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, partly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine. - Some to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me. - Some to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of part salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Inspiration - The breath of life
As I came upon this blog entry by Barry Howe, Inspiration, several days ago when it was first posted, the first thought that entered my head was the kind of inspiration that motivates art or conquests or achievements. I had to chuckle when I read Christy's comment below it. That's the kind of inspiration I was thinking of.
Inspiration is what has launched ships, written plays, invented light bulbs, won medals, conquered kingdoms. And wrote the Bible:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: - 1 Timothy 3:16
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. - Job 32:8
It is not an accidental metaphor. To think the physiologic activity of breathing is analogous to the movement of the Holy Spirit on a person's heart is not so far fetched, and further analogies ensue that can be applied to the spiritual life:
1) It is the collection of substances in high enough quantities to be harmful (i.e. acid) that initiates the drive to inspire.
2) Inspiration is never forced in. A contraction of the diaphragm creates a vacuum, a void of substance, if you will, that is filled then with life-giving air. Only on a ventilator, an unnatural situation and an emergency, is 'inspiration' forced. And even then, it is not really inspiration, but mere ventilation.
3) Despite the action of breathing, inspiration can be inhibited. Anything that does not belong, whether man-made or biological, natural or artificial, that causes obstruction can prevent the benefit of inspiration from occurring.
4) Inspiration is not optional for life; without inspiration we would die.
Without inspiration there would be no art or beauty or cleverness or wit or poetry or stories. Without inspiration we would not only stop breathing, we would cease to live.
Have you every tried to write a poem, a story, paint a picture, photograph beauty, or create anything without inspiration?
1) It is often the pain in one's life, whether internal or external, its relief or its presence that brings inspiration or prompts a seeking after God.
2) God and His inspiration is never forced. Without a need created, its reception is not desired.
3) Things we do or positions we place ourselves in, even if not intrinsically evil or harmful, can be an obstruction to inspiration as well as to God's Holy Spirit. We really have a difficult time believing that what we eat, what we watch, listen to, do, or even think about have a bearing on our reception of life itself.
4) One day, we will each get what we want, whether the continued abiding or the continued absence of the presence of God who inspires...
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; - Acts 17:28
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What is important?
A reevaluation of the importance of certain matters comes about in times of tragedy, pain, suffering. It is in those times of trouble that values are reexamined to seek the answer to this most fundamental question.
This question marks the bottom line of every action and thought. It displays the value that is necessary in every endeavor, or action set in motion. Each thought of consequence or purpose. In class of education, this question marks the focus of study. For each class tests to answer this very conjecture.
This question, asked at the end of life, then takes close scrutiny to every choice that came before and places each in appropriately glaring light. For truth will give its answer, and each decision must be weighed against the answer to this question. Is it time at the office, is it amount of money made and lost, is it fortunes built and legacy made? What is important, for the answer to this question drives the motive. By the answer to this question we choose our vocation, companion, even amusement and recreation. If we believe adventure and exploration is important then our activities follow suite.
At the end of school, if grades were more important than learning, or achievement better than mastery, then it shows itself in the kind of scholar or artisan produced, whether one who merely has performed the task required to receive a certificate, or whether mastery of information has been acquired.
This question drives our happiness, and we find ourselves deceived if at the outcome of all events, this question, put forth at the beginning, the middle and the end, is answered with the glib but hurried response, token to the impetuous disinterest in its underlying meaning. Meaning with such depth that to deny its acknowledgment would render us chasing with savage intensity those things that will not produce what we desire. Satisfaction and contentment. Peace that is presumptively described as Divine. That may not be so.
So this question must be answered at every stage, and reopened again. Not so much that indecision creeps in but enough that we remember what drives us forward, ignites our hearts, and fuels our passions. Because in the existence that allows self-awareness enough to the education of the conscience, To Be Or Not to Be, once answered, that which provides meaning to the Being is the question that then begs attention: In order to Be, what is important?
What gives existence life?
This question marks the bottom line of every action and thought. It displays the value that is necessary in every endeavor, or action set in motion. Each thought of consequence or purpose. In class of education, this question marks the focus of study. For each class tests to answer this very conjecture.
This question, asked at the end of life, then takes close scrutiny to every choice that came before and places each in appropriately glaring light. For truth will give its answer, and each decision must be weighed against the answer to this question. Is it time at the office, is it amount of money made and lost, is it fortunes built and legacy made? What is important, for the answer to this question drives the motive. By the answer to this question we choose our vocation, companion, even amusement and recreation. If we believe adventure and exploration is important then our activities follow suite.
At the end of school, if grades were more important than learning, or achievement better than mastery, then it shows itself in the kind of scholar or artisan produced, whether one who merely has performed the task required to receive a certificate, or whether mastery of information has been acquired.
This question drives our happiness, and we find ourselves deceived if at the outcome of all events, this question, put forth at the beginning, the middle and the end, is answered with the glib but hurried response, token to the impetuous disinterest in its underlying meaning. Meaning with such depth that to deny its acknowledgment would render us chasing with savage intensity those things that will not produce what we desire. Satisfaction and contentment. Peace that is presumptively described as Divine. That may not be so.
So this question must be answered at every stage, and reopened again. Not so much that indecision creeps in but enough that we remember what drives us forward, ignites our hearts, and fuels our passions. Because in the existence that allows self-awareness enough to the education of the conscience, To Be Or Not to Be, once answered, that which provides meaning to the Being is the question that then begs attention: In order to Be, what is important?
What gives existence life?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Decide today, again.
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| Sabbath Morning |
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.Deuteronomy 6:7-8
Woke up Sabbath morning.
Chose to be a Christian.
Had devotional.
Read Bible.
Read Steps to Christ.
Took notes.
Took this picture.
Packed for the day.
Got dressed.
Reviewed Chapter 1 for Sabbath School.
Tied Nick's tie.
Was convicted by Divine Service message.
Missed friends who are out of state.
Had lunch.
Went out on Greg's boat.
Listened to Prophets and Kings being read.
Closed Sabbath.
Made applesauce.
Talked photography with Jonathan.
Planned outing.
Missed a meeting.
Drove home.
Blogged this entry.
Tomorrow, I have to make a decision again. To be a Christian. Just like you do.
Click HERE to see photos from Sabbath afternoon boat trip.Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians.- Steps to Christ, p. 47
Friday, October 1, 2010
Seven Pounds and The Recession
If you hit the link to this Blogpost's Title, you'll brought to a comprehensive list that shows which state's will start to reduce their collective contribution to the Nationial Donor Registry. As well as considerable reduction in commercial activity. The world will start to rotate a little bit more slowly, and we'll shuttled back to the ages of ink and paper, constantly worrying whether our spouses or kids will arrive at home on time.
This is because the activity of texting, checking emails, and divising the take over the free world, while driving has been banned from certain states. On my way to and from Boston several nights ago, signs reminded drivers that beginning October 1, 2010, it was now illegal to text while driving. I suppose there would be a possibility of text-o-meter, to check toxic levels to texting. Thumb temperatures and circulation to distal digits can be monitored, as well as text logs on cell phones could be required to be given over for law-enforcement officials to review.
Imagine what it would be like if we weren't able to conduct business on our cell phones with the kind of relentless ambition that drives the Capitalism Paragon of the World. Commerce would come to a virtual halt (pun intended), and we'd be back to the recession of which we've slowly been working toward coming out.
The down side of all this is that I'm card-carrying organ donor. I believe in it adamantly. Life could be easily improved by the simple selfless act of letting people farm our unused non-cataract lenses, non-cirrhotic levers, uninfected bone marrows. I've been accused to having a body with a cellular age of a guy 15 years my junior (is that possible?) and believe that if I died (presumably while texting and driving) I could further the enjoyment of some other people on this earth, just by having that little pink dot on my driver's license. Because of this new law, this ability to extend the life of others will be greatly reduced. And to what extent? Only time will tell.
Besides, I can think of few better ways to give your heart away ;-)
This is because the activity of texting, checking emails, and divising the take over the free world, while driving has been banned from certain states. On my way to and from Boston several nights ago, signs reminded drivers that beginning October 1, 2010, it was now illegal to text while driving. I suppose there would be a possibility of text-o-meter, to check toxic levels to texting. Thumb temperatures and circulation to distal digits can be monitored, as well as text logs on cell phones could be required to be given over for law-enforcement officials to review.
Imagine what it would be like if we weren't able to conduct business on our cell phones with the kind of relentless ambition that drives the Capitalism Paragon of the World. Commerce would come to a virtual halt (pun intended), and we'd be back to the recession of which we've slowly been working toward coming out.
The down side of all this is that I'm card-carrying organ donor. I believe in it adamantly. Life could be easily improved by the simple selfless act of letting people farm our unused non-cataract lenses, non-cirrhotic levers, uninfected bone marrows. I've been accused to having a body with a cellular age of a guy 15 years my junior (is that possible?) and believe that if I died (presumably while texting and driving) I could further the enjoyment of some other people on this earth, just by having that little pink dot on my driver's license. Because of this new law, this ability to extend the life of others will be greatly reduced. And to what extent? Only time will tell.
Besides, I can think of few better ways to give your heart away ;-)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Circulation
The highly vascularized circulation in the mouth is what makes a cut on the tongue or oral mucosa bleed profusely. Interestingly enough, it's that same highly vascularized circulation that helps the mouth heal quite well if it is cut or if the mucosa is damaged.
I just thought it was curious that the same thing that makes it bleed, is the same thing that makes it heal.
More than one thing works this way in the human experience.
I just thought it was curious that the same thing that makes it bleed, is the same thing that makes it heal.
More than one thing works this way in the human experience.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Discovery
The difference between honesty and Truth is that honesty is relative to what one can see. Truth is independent of whether we can see it or not. Honesty holds on to Truth, but only can wrap our limited sight around a portion of it. More on this idea later.
And to be honest, I would love to make a living being a portrait photographer. One of my most cherished compliments is a friend of mine exclaiming, "I don't know what you did with that photograph but you made me look beautiful!" But what started long ago, built on ambitious unbridled youth to find visual aesthetics, grew into a wonder at finding honesty, the way one sits on the porch by an elderly sage, listening to history, except seeing with the eyes, the history of the person in their face, not just the features but the expression.
The same goes with an interview. If I had to choose whether I could tell entertaining stories or conduct a meaningful interview, I would choose the interview every single time. Because although a good story makes the hearer see something new, gives a new experience, a good interview makes the person being interviewed tell their own story, no matter how incapable a story-teller they think they are. The interview overturns old cobwebs in the mind's history of a self unexamined for years, and though lived some time ago, now is able to live again, with the added experience of wisdom collected from the time of occurrence to the current time of insight. It gives a chance to see things again, maybe more clearly this time. And the recollection is just as strong in feeling, just as vivid in color, but many times more meaningful.
A good portrait is a visual interview. The same way in which an interview is not just about the one being interviewed but is truly a tango, foxtrot or waltz between them and the interviewer, for the interview is a conversation of exploration, where the asker is the explorer and the interviewee is the guide. Both discovering, unearthing treasures, similar to both, but peculiar to each. The meaningfulness of each discovery is flavored with the honest scrutiny of the interviewer themselves. There is no getting away from it, for the interviewee is not the one asking themselves questions. The interviewer brings some of themselves to the table. And the same is true for the portrait. The photographer puts a little of himself into each portrait, and in a way, they dance together, the subject and the artist. And what everyone sees is not simply an individual but interplay, a cooperation of two people to the music they both hear. And we see the dance.
Epilogue:
Where did all this come from? For my birthday, I shuttled off to Portland, where I, unbeknownst the promptings of my friend, indulged myself in some (vegan) ice cream, turned off my cellphone, and walked around the park and spent some time with myself, drove back to my apartment, I took out a book entitled, 'Visual Poetry' by Chris Orwig, and began, not at the beginning but on the section about portraits. Now I am done with technical books, and for me to pick up another book on photography it had to be special. Engrossed, I became more so over time and spent the final several hours of my birthday looking inside and wondering outside. And I forgot to eat, and I forgot to sleep, but I let my mind wander unbridled for just a bit of time. And it ran away.
And to be honest, I would love to make a living being a portrait photographer. One of my most cherished compliments is a friend of mine exclaiming, "I don't know what you did with that photograph but you made me look beautiful!" But what started long ago, built on ambitious unbridled youth to find visual aesthetics, grew into a wonder at finding honesty, the way one sits on the porch by an elderly sage, listening to history, except seeing with the eyes, the history of the person in their face, not just the features but the expression.
The same goes with an interview. If I had to choose whether I could tell entertaining stories or conduct a meaningful interview, I would choose the interview every single time. Because although a good story makes the hearer see something new, gives a new experience, a good interview makes the person being interviewed tell their own story, no matter how incapable a story-teller they think they are. The interview overturns old cobwebs in the mind's history of a self unexamined for years, and though lived some time ago, now is able to live again, with the added experience of wisdom collected from the time of occurrence to the current time of insight. It gives a chance to see things again, maybe more clearly this time. And the recollection is just as strong in feeling, just as vivid in color, but many times more meaningful.
A good portrait is a visual interview. The same way in which an interview is not just about the one being interviewed but is truly a tango, foxtrot or waltz between them and the interviewer, for the interview is a conversation of exploration, where the asker is the explorer and the interviewee is the guide. Both discovering, unearthing treasures, similar to both, but peculiar to each. The meaningfulness of each discovery is flavored with the honest scrutiny of the interviewer themselves. There is no getting away from it, for the interviewee is not the one asking themselves questions. The interviewer brings some of themselves to the table. And the same is true for the portrait. The photographer puts a little of himself into each portrait, and in a way, they dance together, the subject and the artist. And what everyone sees is not simply an individual but interplay, a cooperation of two people to the music they both hear. And we see the dance.
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| 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/2.8L IS @78mm, 1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 1600, 2x 580EX II (shoot thru, bounce) |
Epilogue:
Where did all this come from? For my birthday, I shuttled off to Portland, where I, unbeknownst the promptings of my friend, indulged myself in some (vegan) ice cream, turned off my cellphone, and walked around the park and spent some time with myself, drove back to my apartment, I took out a book entitled, 'Visual Poetry' by Chris Orwig, and began, not at the beginning but on the section about portraits. Now I am done with technical books, and for me to pick up another book on photography it had to be special. Engrossed, I became more so over time and spent the final several hours of my birthday looking inside and wondering outside. And I forgot to eat, and I forgot to sleep, but I let my mind wander unbridled for just a bit of time. And it ran away.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Charming at any age
Where does it go when they get older? You see it when they're little and wish they'd just hold on to it forever.
What I'm talking about is that innocent charm that is just so winning. I'm talking about that easy trust and how quickly it turned from suspicion. I'm talking about the fact that I didn't have to perform any song and dance to earn it.
What I'm talking about is an ordinary 2 year old little girl who, when I entered, looked at me with initial wonder and a glance to her mom let me know that she needed at least some reassurance. I wasn't about to win this girl's affection any time soon. Or so I thought.
I spoke to girl in a smaller voice, but like an adult. I don't believe in baby talk for ANYONE, no matter if you were just born today. So I spoke with her and talked her through some of the exam of her tender ears, delicate nose and sore throat. She didn't seem to mind being reassured by my words at least. But things got worse when we had to test her throat. She fought and turned and loudly vocalized her pain. But it was at the end of the test confirmation and discussing diagnosis and treatment with the mom, I made my salutation to leave, giving a wide birth and waving bye after that troublesome throat swab.
But when her mom asked her to give me a high-five, she reached out and said, "a hug, a hug!" What a pleasent child! I leaned over and a gave this little child a hug, and was greeted with, "no, a kiss!" How could you not be charmed by that! I leaned over and showed my cheek, on which she planted what felt like a butterfly's delicate caress. I can still feel it now!
And I wondered where all this goes when they grow up. Beat down with cynicism, and heart ache, and cares of growing up, no doubt. Maybe I'm simple like that. Because I wasn't charmed by cleverness and wit, and humor, and adventure, nor by a well-baked dessert or entree.
The seduction was by her unaffected tenderness, warmth and affection ...without an agenda. Just because she had it to give. And she wanted to give it to me.
Boy I love my job.
What I'm talking about is that innocent charm that is just so winning. I'm talking about that easy trust and how quickly it turned from suspicion. I'm talking about the fact that I didn't have to perform any song and dance to earn it.
What I'm talking about is an ordinary 2 year old little girl who, when I entered, looked at me with initial wonder and a glance to her mom let me know that she needed at least some reassurance. I wasn't about to win this girl's affection any time soon. Or so I thought.
I spoke to girl in a smaller voice, but like an adult. I don't believe in baby talk for ANYONE, no matter if you were just born today. So I spoke with her and talked her through some of the exam of her tender ears, delicate nose and sore throat. She didn't seem to mind being reassured by my words at least. But things got worse when we had to test her throat. She fought and turned and loudly vocalized her pain. But it was at the end of the test confirmation and discussing diagnosis and treatment with the mom, I made my salutation to leave, giving a wide birth and waving bye after that troublesome throat swab.
But when her mom asked her to give me a high-five, she reached out and said, "a hug, a hug!" What a pleasent child! I leaned over and a gave this little child a hug, and was greeted with, "no, a kiss!" How could you not be charmed by that! I leaned over and showed my cheek, on which she planted what felt like a butterfly's delicate caress. I can still feel it now!
And I wondered where all this goes when they grow up. Beat down with cynicism, and heart ache, and cares of growing up, no doubt. Maybe I'm simple like that. Because I wasn't charmed by cleverness and wit, and humor, and adventure, nor by a well-baked dessert or entree.
The seduction was by her unaffected tenderness, warmth and affection ...without an agenda. Just because she had it to give. And she wanted to give it to me.
Boy I love my job.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Solidarity
sol • i • dar • i • ty |ˌsäləˈde(ə)ritē|
noun
unity or agreement of feeling or action, esp. among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group
At its deepest core, it is a union deeper than sympathy and empathy. Let me give you examples:
Sympathy - When someone tells you they broke a rib.
Empathy - When someone tells you they broke a rib, when you recently broke a rib too.
Solidarity - When someone tells you they broke a rib, and it's your Siamese twin.
It doesn't get closer than that.
To put one's self in another's shoes and to feel their pain, only then can we be moved with enough compassion to seek true reconciliation. This is the idea behind John 1:14, and 2 Cor 5:21
...and the two shall be one flesh ...
noun
unity or agreement of feeling or action, esp. among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group
At its deepest core, it is a union deeper than sympathy and empathy. Let me give you examples:
Sympathy - When someone tells you they broke a rib.
Empathy - When someone tells you they broke a rib, when you recently broke a rib too.
Solidarity - When someone tells you they broke a rib, and it's your Siamese twin.
It doesn't get closer than that.
To put one's self in another's shoes and to feel their pain, only then can we be moved with enough compassion to seek true reconciliation. This is the idea behind John 1:14, and 2 Cor 5:21
...and the two shall be one flesh ...
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Time and Space
So it doesn't take a Hawking or a Feynman to realize that when time compresses, it gleans the important from the trivial. And you realize what your duty is and who you value, not because they come to you in crises, but because you reach out to them in a crunch, when time is running out.
Now if I could just get the catheter in and the IV fluids started, the TPN bag will have to wait...
Now if I could just get the catheter in and the IV fluids started, the TPN bag will have to wait...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Repertoire and Synthesis
Title: Repertoire and Synthesis
Important: Learners and Teachers, Anybody
Concept: The focus of this entry is the way we collect information (intellectual, factual, emotional, etc.) and how we process it and use it, and then how we synthesize information. By synthesize, I mean putting seemingly unrelated parts together.
Examples of this are taking what you learn in Physics class and applying it to what you learn in English class, and then coming up with a (sometimes novel) conclusion. A strong example of this would be Barry in medical school. I use Barry here because he is starting out. Daniel will come later, he's a year ahead of Barry. Drew will come even later because he's a year ahead of Daniel. David just graduated, he's a more special case, we'll see later.
Barry must learn information that has been collected and refined from the last 160 years or so. He is not to make his own ideas of what medicine is at this current stage. He is building his repertoire of information about biochemistry, micro-anatomy, gross anatomy, patient behavior, etc.
What he must do in addition is make secondary and tertiary connections. This will be assisted by two things:
1) Bigger repertoire (larger knowledge base)
2) Intimacy with said repertoire
The sooner he learns and becomes intimate with the medical knowledge of ages past, the more secondary and tertiary connections he can make. It's like playing Clue. Instead of rooms, you have disease, instead of weapons you have treatment, instead of characters you have specialties (this analogy is actually a rough one, excuse the incongruencies). A simple secondary connection would be connecting of information learned in micro-anatomy (striated muscle cells in histology) with that learned in gross anatomy (muscle tissue). A more complex one would be connecting biochemistry (Kreb cycle) with liver biochemistry, organic chemistry and gross anatomy. Connecting these three with pathophysiology (2nd year Med) is still a secondary connection, albeit more complex.
A tertiary connection is a connection made between two secondary connections. This takes work. But is necessary for Step I boards. (Yeah, that's you, Daniel.)
There are some classes that transcend mere collection of information. These classes are similar in fashion: law, writing, math, to name a few. These are fundamental, but lexicon is still necessary.
Then there is history. It is a meta-analysis of sorts. In effect, it has potential for us to look at the way we look at medicine. (That's why the 'meta'.)
Ok, that being said, the BEST example is Words:
For our first few years, we learns sounds (we cooed, and giggled and ahhhed), but when we spoke intelligible words, our parent's eyes lit up and we kept doing it until we spoke. Go, ball, me, yes, NO! all single syllable items of our repertoire. And before you know it we were putting two items together in a repertoire. We were synthesizing, if you will. No remember (back when you were 2 years old) that you didn't need a large repertoire in order to begin synthesizing. It simply happened out of need for efficiency and communication. I... want ... food. The synthesis of these three items of repertoire (vocabulary words) produces a clear communication to the listener. What is less clear was the cry you emitted 1.5 years early, when none of us except our mothers could figure out what it meant, were you wet, hungry, tired, sick?
So as our repertoire of words enlarges, we can make secondary connections better: we form sentences. Then it gets more complex. We must move to tertiary connections. The idea of a sentence (secondary connection) must connect with the idea of another sentence. Why so? To be clear(er). We make connections to understand and be understood. One of the most difficult and lonely places to be is to be in the middle of a group of people and not be understood, especially when you have a need like a tooth ache or think Appendicitis in Tanzania, unless you're fluent in Medical Swahili, you're stuck.
But it get's better. Not just a mere connection of words (sentences, secondary connection of items of repertoire), but now their aesthetic, words choice, diction, all must communicate not just intellectual information but a sense, a feeling. Two examples: John, Adri. (if you want to add more repertoire, take these two as well, Christy and Lauren, they've added photos.)
Poetry and Prose, complex feelings of gratitude and humor, nebulous ideas in our collection of The Human Experience, that is necessary to share, else we would die of solitary confinement. This idea is something we all CRAVE: Intimacy, to know and be known. It is the final product of love in its truest sense:
Remember, looking at words and understanding its connection, we can apply that to every other way we learn information (emotional, intellectual, factual). Barry, Daniel and Drew, MUST learn their repertoire and synthesize. All of you getting your Bachelor's, you are learning your repertoire. Graduate Students must, and begin to senthesize. Parents do it inadvertently. We all do. We just don't take a meta-glance at it the way we're doing here.
Which brings us to the reception of Spiritual Truth.... stay tuned...
Important: Learners and Teachers, Anybody
Concept: The focus of this entry is the way we collect information (intellectual, factual, emotional, etc.) and how we process it and use it, and then how we synthesize information. By synthesize, I mean putting seemingly unrelated parts together.
Examples of this are taking what you learn in Physics class and applying it to what you learn in English class, and then coming up with a (sometimes novel) conclusion. A strong example of this would be Barry in medical school. I use Barry here because he is starting out. Daniel will come later, he's a year ahead of Barry. Drew will come even later because he's a year ahead of Daniel. David just graduated, he's a more special case, we'll see later.
Barry must learn information that has been collected and refined from the last 160 years or so. He is not to make his own ideas of what medicine is at this current stage. He is building his repertoire of information about biochemistry, micro-anatomy, gross anatomy, patient behavior, etc.
What he must do in addition is make secondary and tertiary connections. This will be assisted by two things:
1) Bigger repertoire (larger knowledge base)
2) Intimacy with said repertoire
The sooner he learns and becomes intimate with the medical knowledge of ages past, the more secondary and tertiary connections he can make. It's like playing Clue. Instead of rooms, you have disease, instead of weapons you have treatment, instead of characters you have specialties (this analogy is actually a rough one, excuse the incongruencies). A simple secondary connection would be connecting of information learned in micro-anatomy (striated muscle cells in histology) with that learned in gross anatomy (muscle tissue). A more complex one would be connecting biochemistry (Kreb cycle) with liver biochemistry, organic chemistry and gross anatomy. Connecting these three with pathophysiology (2nd year Med) is still a secondary connection, albeit more complex.
A tertiary connection is a connection made between two secondary connections. This takes work. But is necessary for Step I boards. (Yeah, that's you, Daniel.)
There are some classes that transcend mere collection of information. These classes are similar in fashion: law, writing, math, to name a few. These are fundamental, but lexicon is still necessary.
Then there is history. It is a meta-analysis of sorts. In effect, it has potential for us to look at the way we look at medicine. (That's why the 'meta'.)
Ok, that being said, the BEST example is Words:
For our first few years, we learns sounds (we cooed, and giggled and ahhhed), but when we spoke intelligible words, our parent's eyes lit up and we kept doing it until we spoke. Go, ball, me, yes, NO! all single syllable items of our repertoire. And before you know it we were putting two items together in a repertoire. We were synthesizing, if you will. No remember (back when you were 2 years old) that you didn't need a large repertoire in order to begin synthesizing. It simply happened out of need for efficiency and communication. I... want ... food. The synthesis of these three items of repertoire (vocabulary words) produces a clear communication to the listener. What is less clear was the cry you emitted 1.5 years early, when none of us except our mothers could figure out what it meant, were you wet, hungry, tired, sick?
So as our repertoire of words enlarges, we can make secondary connections better: we form sentences. Then it gets more complex. We must move to tertiary connections. The idea of a sentence (secondary connection) must connect with the idea of another sentence. Why so? To be clear(er). We make connections to understand and be understood. One of the most difficult and lonely places to be is to be in the middle of a group of people and not be understood, especially when you have a need like a tooth ache or think Appendicitis in Tanzania, unless you're fluent in Medical Swahili, you're stuck.
But it get's better. Not just a mere connection of words (sentences, secondary connection of items of repertoire), but now their aesthetic, words choice, diction, all must communicate not just intellectual information but a sense, a feeling. Two examples: John, Adri. (if you want to add more repertoire, take these two as well, Christy and Lauren, they've added photos.)
Poetry and Prose, complex feelings of gratitude and humor, nebulous ideas in our collection of The Human Experience, that is necessary to share, else we would die of solitary confinement. This idea is something we all CRAVE: Intimacy, to know and be known. It is the final product of love in its truest sense:
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." - I Corinthians 13:12
Remember, looking at words and understanding its connection, we can apply that to every other way we learn information (emotional, intellectual, factual). Barry, Daniel and Drew, MUST learn their repertoire and synthesize. All of you getting your Bachelor's, you are learning your repertoire. Graduate Students must, and begin to senthesize. Parents do it inadvertently. We all do. We just don't take a meta-glance at it the way we're doing here.
Which brings us to the reception of Spiritual Truth.... stay tuned...
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Priorities
Priorities.
Every so often, you have to stop and take inventory.
Mine would happen between travel assignments. At the end of an assignment, I had to clean out the place I was staying and throw out the clutter, and decide exactly what I needed for where I was going. What could I not do without, and what could get tossed. Could I take my bike? Must I have this piece of equipment? On and on the list was trimmed, and I learned more than just what I could live with, but what you couldn't live without. And this happened EVERY time I switched assignments. Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, California, Vermont.
Now that doesn't only work with clutter, or home items. It has to do with emotions, and ambitions, and duties, and values. What ambitions am I just holding onto because of pride and preference, or vindictiveness or pain? What values do I have that really make a difference. And you choose what you value.
And it comes down to that all important question: what's important?
We can give trite answers, but it's the time alone, when no one is looking and the people who have the most influence on your decisions are gone or away or no longer count in your life that you get to take a deep breath and sigh. And look at that list again, and even educate that list. What values can't I live without, and what inconveniences can I live with?
So what prompted this, since I'm done with my current assignment? I'm cleaning out my apartment, my brother's coming over to visit (from California).
Every so often, you have to stop and take inventory.
Mine would happen between travel assignments. At the end of an assignment, I had to clean out the place I was staying and throw out the clutter, and decide exactly what I needed for where I was going. What could I not do without, and what could get tossed. Could I take my bike? Must I have this piece of equipment? On and on the list was trimmed, and I learned more than just what I could live with, but what you couldn't live without. And this happened EVERY time I switched assignments. Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, California, Vermont.
Now that doesn't only work with clutter, or home items. It has to do with emotions, and ambitions, and duties, and values. What ambitions am I just holding onto because of pride and preference, or vindictiveness or pain? What values do I have that really make a difference. And you choose what you value.
And it comes down to that all important question: what's important?
We can give trite answers, but it's the time alone, when no one is looking and the people who have the most influence on your decisions are gone or away or no longer count in your life that you get to take a deep breath and sigh. And look at that list again, and even educate that list. What values can't I live without, and what inconveniences can I live with?
So what prompted this, since I'm done with my current assignment? I'm cleaning out my apartment, my brother's coming over to visit (from California).
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Clarity
It was so clear. And when it hit me, everything seemed to fall away and pale in importance. Not that other things weren't important. No, that's not what happened. It was simply that when the realization came home, it lent a clarity to other aspects of my life for the next 6 months.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
That 1000 mile journey begins...
...with a single step. I didn't think I'd ever be putting up a blog about my own life. It's just life. That first step starts right here.
When you're used to sharing your thoughts and dreams with someone and now they've decided to share their life with someone else, it leaves you feeling a little empty handed, or left out to dry. Or better yet holding a bag of groceries and no where to put it down.
I tried really hard for a long time, to keep to myself. I was used to coming and going, touching bases with old friends, and then off again on my travels. It was good at the time, and I thought it would always be that way. Until something happens, and despite your very best efforts, someone special convinces you to open up to them. Vulnerability is displayed when disclosure happens, and a sort of freedom comes albeit little by little. But what occurs then is not dissimilar to expanding one's mind. Never again will my mind shrink bank to the small proportions it once was some time ago. Like learning to read, initially those angular markings become familiar letters, which group together to form words, and ideas, and meaning. And once this happens, you'll never be able to look at certain markings without automatically formulating a words, such as cat, and seeing a thought come into your head. It's not something you forget like a fact. It is a formulation of familiarity that gives meaning.
Disclosure and vulnerability become, not a fact of memory, but a familiar pattern of habit that brings comfort and order out of situations that aren't comfortable or familiar. That's why we like to talk things out, or talk with someone about things going on in our lives.
But since the repository has now moved on, being vulnerable can no longer be safe. For why would I open up to someone who is emotionally with someone else?
"But I want to know how you are doing?"
So now the reason for this blog, and consequently the web address: How I am doing. If you want to know how I am doing, come to see: HowIamdoing.blogspot.com - if you want more, drop me a comment.
When you're used to sharing your thoughts and dreams with someone and now they've decided to share their life with someone else, it leaves you feeling a little empty handed, or left out to dry. Or better yet holding a bag of groceries and no where to put it down.
I tried really hard for a long time, to keep to myself. I was used to coming and going, touching bases with old friends, and then off again on my travels. It was good at the time, and I thought it would always be that way. Until something happens, and despite your very best efforts, someone special convinces you to open up to them. Vulnerability is displayed when disclosure happens, and a sort of freedom comes albeit little by little. But what occurs then is not dissimilar to expanding one's mind. Never again will my mind shrink bank to the small proportions it once was some time ago. Like learning to read, initially those angular markings become familiar letters, which group together to form words, and ideas, and meaning. And once this happens, you'll never be able to look at certain markings without automatically formulating a words, such as cat, and seeing a thought come into your head. It's not something you forget like a fact. It is a formulation of familiarity that gives meaning.
Disclosure and vulnerability become, not a fact of memory, but a familiar pattern of habit that brings comfort and order out of situations that aren't comfortable or familiar. That's why we like to talk things out, or talk with someone about things going on in our lives.
But since the repository has now moved on, being vulnerable can no longer be safe. For why would I open up to someone who is emotionally with someone else?
"But I want to know how you are doing?"
So now the reason for this blog, and consequently the web address: How I am doing. If you want to know how I am doing, come to see: HowIamdoing.blogspot.com - if you want more, drop me a comment.
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